Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Leyonhjelm. The Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance members include Diabetes Australia, Cancer Council Australia, Kidney Health Australia, the National Heart Foundation and the Stroke Foundation. The government has been pleased to fund members of the alliance, which are respected, trusted organisations in the Australian community, to deliver a range of valuable preventative health activities over the past few years.

The funding has included $660,000 over the last three years to the Stroke Foundation to review and update the clinical guidelines for stroke management, which will help doctors better ensure outcomes for Australians who are unfortunate enough to suffer from a stroke; $55.6 million to Diabetes Australia in the last financial year to implement the National Diabetes Services Scheme, a scheme that is helping all Australians afflicted with diabetes to get the supplies they need to manage this potentially debilitating condition; and $730,000 to Cancer Council Australia to revise guidelines to assist doctors to detect bowel cancer early, to manage cancer when it occurs and to provide advice to patients on how to reduce the risk of bowel cancer. This work is done by our world-leading experts, helping us to reduce the incidence and impact of this common cancer.

The research is clear. Chronic conditions can be best addressed by reducing the prevalence and impact of health risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy weight gain, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. The government acknowledges that chronic conditions impact heavily on the community, families and individuals, but according to the 2014-15 National Health Survey it's estimated that 63.4 per cent of Australians aged 18 years and over are overweight or obese. That is why we support a range of issues and tangible initiatives in the community to reduce those health risk factors.

The PRESIDENT: Senator Leyonhjelm, a supplementary question.