Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I am looking forward to Senator Boyce’s contribution. There is no question now that tobacco has killed millions of people, and I have never met a smoker who on some level did not want to give it up if they had the right support. It pains me to see people I know and care about killing themselves one cigarette at a time because this unsafe product is so addictive. We have done a lot to help reduce smoking so far, but so much more needs to be done. We need to seriously look at these issues and come up with evidence based, effective recommendations to government about what can be done.

The role of this agency will be to support the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference and, through this conference, COAG to address the challenges associated with preventable health issues and with other chronic illnesses. The ANPHA will be a statutory body; therefore, I believe it is crucial that this body provide independent advice and that any recommendations made by this agency are taken seriously.

Australia does not need another layer of health bureaucracy without more information and better advocacy. That is why I support the intention behind establishing this agency but I do not support a bureaucracy without accountability not just to the government but, more broadly, to the people of Australia. That is why I will be moving an amendment to this bill, calling for the advice and recommendations made by the agency, to be published on its website on a timely basis. Six months was my initial view, but I understand that the Greens will look to amend this to 12 months, and I indicate that I am supportive of that amendment as long as it is on at least an annual basis.

I note that the government is concerned that the agency may feel constrained by such a requirement to publish its advice and recommendations and that the government may be hesitant in what it requests the agency to investigate. I believe that if agencies such as this are to be truly independent and if the recommendations are to be given the authority they deserve, then they need to be made public, and ministers and governments must not have the capacity to ignore or reject out of hand important research-based preventative health recommendations without providing their reasons for doing so. After all, are we not trying to achieve a healthier Australia?

The agency will also provide leadership on preventative health surveillance and data, promote standards and codes for preventative health, collate evidence of preventative health and report biannually. These are important tasks. The agency will also manage schemes rewarding preventative health strategies, provide grounds of financial assistance to health ministers, support cooperation and action leading to better preventative health, and promote behavioural change. Promoting behavioural change is very important in getting a good outcome. I support all of these goals and I look forward to the committee stage of this bill.

Debate interrupted.