Tax Breaks for Fitness and Recreation?

The Federal Government's Preventative Health Taskforce is suggesting a range of reforms to improve the health of Australians including increasing tax breaks for fitness-related products and recreational activities, and for schools and workplaces to provide healthy foods.

The suggestions are included in a discussion paper, Australia: the healthiest country by 2020, published by the Preventative Health Taskforce.

Established by Federal Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon in April of this year, the Taskforce is to produce the National Preventative Health Strategy by June 2009, focusing on the primary prevention of obesity, tobacco and harmful consumption of alcohol.

The discussion paper outlines the case for reform in Australia's approach to the prevention of illness and the promotion of health. It suggests major changes in the behavior of individuals, families, communities, industries, states and the nation.

In relation to fitness and recreation, the discussion paper suggests a "review (of) the taxation system to enable access to healthier foods and active recreation (for example, increase tax breaks for fitness-related products and recreational activities, and for schools and workplaces to provide healthy foods)."

The discussion paper also makes significant suggestions in relation to urban environments, suggesting the introduction of "incentive schemes to encourage healthy behaviours and weight management including contributions to gym memberships, active travel in expense policies, and the availability and promotion of competitively priced healthy food choices on-site."

It also suggests "the adoption of consistent town planning and general building design that encourage greater levels of physical activity, and reorient urban obesity-promoting environments through appropriate infrastructure investments. For example, develop state and municipal plans to re-orient public transportation and increase urban density, support farmers' markets, build bicycle paths and footpaths,and protect open spaces."

Coinciding with the release of the discussion paper, Task Force Chair, Professor Rob Moodie of the Nossal Institute for Global Health at the University of Melbourne, was interviewed on the ABC's The Health Report.

During his interview Moodie identified the socio-economic divide in obesity, something Australia's politicians generally avoid highlighting, stating "with obesity, it's a postcode problem where you can go through certain postcodes in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and (in) the upper middle class ones and you won't find so many fat and overweight people and you'll find other suburbs where you will find them."

The Taskforce is currently consulting across Australia, in every major capital city, and in Albury/Wodonga, Dubbo, Kalgoorlie, Launceston, Darwin and Alice Springs. Submissions on the discussion paper are invited up to Friday 2nd January 2009.

For details email: pht.secretariat@health.gov.au

www.preventativehealth.org.au/internet/preventativehealth/publishing.nsf/Content/discussion-healthiest