Prevention
If the legislation for the Orwellian-sounding Australian National Preventive Health Agency passes, then expect an avalanche of make-work exercises by the Agency all for the cause of making us healthier.
Armed with a budget of $133 million of your money over four years, the agency would get to work advising commonwealth and state health ministers about health issues surrounding alcohol and tobacco consumption and obesity.
It will look to create new policies about interventions in settings such as schools, workplaces and communities.
This week parliament will debate a bill to establish a national Preventive Health Agency, reminding of that classic Mark Twain observation: nobody is safe while the legislature is in session.
On The Punch Federal health minister Nicola Roxon insisted that she was no nanny statist, and that the purpose of the Agency was about saving lives and reducing health costs.
Most modern governments understand the follies of outright bans, such as the failed US Prohibition movement from 1919 to 1933. However, the Agency plans what it sees as the next best thing.
Continue reading "Counterpunch: The nanny state will nag you to death" »
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SandDollar says:
Well the only fun things left, everything else if offensive apparently. Not sure this is the role of government. Business and government getting into areas of life and culture too much and too often. Read more »
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Julie Coker-Godson says:
I found this article on the BBC about discrimination against the overweight. http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/health/8314125.stm > It makes for interesting reading. Personally I’m fed up with all the judgemental statements being made about this issue and would be interested to see if it ever constituted a “hate crime” as discussed here. Read more »
Next week Parliament is set to consider legislation that is another first from the Rudd Government – Australia’s first agency dedicated to Preventative Health.
Currently the media abounds with stories about our obesity epidemic, rising rates of chronic disease and problems with alcohol and tobacco. This Agency will help us do something about those problems.
As much as some media outlets find the labels irresistible, this isn’t about creating a nanny state, or nagging people into being ‘good’. This Agency will be staffed with experts who will work hard to find the best possible ways to help us be healthier – and reduce our health bill as a result.
Continue reading "I’m no nanny, it’s about saving lives and the system" »
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Latricia says:
Great article but it didn’t have everyhting?I didn’t find the kitchen sink! Read more »
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KaXien VaLa says:
Basically the essence of this idea comes down to the process used to treat health issues and the pathway through treatments. The key elements to consider when proscribing a treatment is the risk to effectiveness relationship. Typically the more severe the issue the more potent the treatment…this means that for… Read more »
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