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Thursday, 9 February 2012
Page: 744

Australian National Preventive Health Agency

(Question No. 760)

Mr Chester asked the Minister for Health and Ageing, in writing, on 24 November 2011:

(1) Can she explain why Australia needs the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA), and what functions the ANPHA will fulfill that were not being undertaken previously.

(2) What are the roles of people involved in the National Preventative Taskforce who are now involved with the ANPHA.

(3) What is the background of each of the appointees to the (a) Board, and (b) Advisory Board, of the ANPHA.

(4) What (a) number, and (b) proportion, of staff appointed to the ANPHA have experience working in the food industry.

Ms Plibersek: The answer to the honourable member's question asked of the former Minister for health and Ageing is as follows:

(1) The Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA) was established to address the increasingly complex challenges associated with preventing chronic disease. It was established in response to the recommendations of the Health and Hospitals Reform Commission and the Preventative Health Taskforce, and with the support of the States and Territories through the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health (NPAPH).

The recommendations of the Commission, the Taskforce and the decision of Governments under the NPAPH was that an agency solely focused on prevention and health promotion would play a valuable role, given the rapidly rising costs resulting from the growing burden of disease related to obesity, tobacco and harmful alcohol consumption.

ANPHA has been established to bring national leadership and coordination to the efforts already underway throughout Australia, to forge strategic partnerships, and look at comprehensive approaches to disease prevention and health promotion, working across the lifespan (from early years to old age) and across sectors.

ANPHA is fulfilling a range of functions that were not being given a specific focus previously, in particular:

providing independent preventive health policy advice to the Commonwealth, State and Territory and local governments;

establishing, for the first time, a National Preventive Health Research Strategy, and managing a grants program under that strategy;

delivering a report on the state of preventive health in Australia;

working with Medicare Locals to establish preventive health measures at the local level; and

forming partnerships with industry, community and non-government sectors.

These functions are in addition to the transfer of specific functions previously conducted by the Department of Health and Ageing to ANPHA and given a specific focus, in particular conducting social marketing campaigns relating to preventive health and the management of the National Binge Drinking Strategy.

(2) Three members of the ANPHA Advisory Council were also members of the nine-member National Preventative Health Taskforce. Professor Rob Moodie chaired the Taskforce, Professor Mike Daube was deputy chair and Dr Lyn Roberts AM was a member of the Taskforce.

(3) ANPHA does not have an Advisory Board. Biographical details for each of the members of the ANPHA Advisory Council may be found on ANPHA's website: www.anpha.gov.au

(4) As at 3 November 2011, 13 staff of ANPHA have had experience working in the food industry (consisting of food handling, manufacture or retail sale). This comprised 39 per cent of ANPHA's 33 staff.