Tony Abbott has abolished the National Preventive Health Agency and has ripped more than $360 million from programs that were tackling obesity, increasing physical activity and improving healthy eating for adults and children around Australia.
“Tony Abbott’s Budget of twisted priorities has not only destroyed Medicare and ripped money out of public hospitals, it has also cut funding from program’s designed to keep people healthy,” Shadow Minister for Health Catherine King said.
“Labor increased investment in preventative health because we know the value this has not only for reducing pressure on our health system, but for building healthy communities.”
“All state and territory governments are signed up to preventative health reforms, with most of the funding already allocated to agreed programs.
“Tony Abbott is not only ripping money away from hospitals, he’s ripping away money the states have already allocated for preventive health measures.”
The Abbott Government has ripped more than $377 million out of preventive health alone through its short-sighted decision to abolish the Australian National Preventive Health Agency and abolish the National Tobacco Campaign.
The National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health was an agreement with states and territories to fund critical programs for adults and children, with reward funding provided for achieving targets on health improvement.
“Labor recognised the need for programs that helped people to be more physically active, to eat healthier, to stop smoking and to reduce drinking at risky levels.”
“Tony Abbott promised there would be no cuts to health before the election, last night he broke that promise. His decision to rip money out of preventive health will place a greater burden on the health system and highlight’s this Government’s twisted priorities.”