7. Towards a National Preventive Health Strategy – your views

This discussion paper provides the first step in the development of the Strategy. We have proposed targets for three key areas of prevention - obesity, tobacco and alcohol, together with priorities and recommended policies and programs. We have also identified the support structures and measurements needed to ensure that the key priorities are met and that there is proper monitoring and evaluation.

A series of questions have been put forward in this paper. The Taskforce is keen to hear your responses and to have your input as we work towards developing the Strategy.

Throughout the paper, an emphasis is placed on working together. We invite all - individuals, community groups, government and non-government organisations and industry groups - to participate by making a submission on how we can make Australia the healthiest nation by 2020. We suggest you take the questions in this paper as a starting point, although we welcome your views on other issues.

The Taskforce will also be holding national consultations from October 2008 to February 2009

Submissions can be made by 2 January 2009 by using the form provided at the Taskforce website: http://www.Preventivehealth.org.au

Content of submissions

Your submission should include:

• Name and full contact details (including email address), company name (where applicable) and designation of submitter. A form for proving this information can be found at the Taskforce website: http://www.Preventivehealth.org.au ;

• Comment on areas/questions set out in the Discussion Paper;

• Any other relevant information (for example any technical, economic or business information, or research-based evidence supporting the view being expressed);

• Identification and discussion of any perceived omissions in the Discussion Paper or alternative approaches.

Mail: Preventive Health Taskforce Secretariat
MDP 16
Department of Health and Ageing
GPO Box 9848
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Email: pht.secretariat@health.gov.au
Telephone: 02 6289 4426

Please note that the Taskforce will not provide a written response to submissions.

Publication of submissions

Unless otherwise indicated in the submission, all submissions may be published on the Preventive Health Taskforce website. If you wish any information contained in your submission to be treated as confidential, please explicitly and clearly identify that information, and outline the reasons why you consider it to be confidential. Note that general disclaimers in covering letters will not be interpreted as a specific request or taken as sufficient reason for submissions to be treated confidentially.

Please note that any request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 for access to a document (regardless of the document’s assigned classification) in the possession of the Commonwealth will be determined in accordance with that Act.