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Advocacy

The Australian Health Promotion Association seeks to influence a broad range of public policies as they impact on population health.

On behalf of members, the AHPA Board and Branch Committees regularly provide formal and informal submissions, letters and statements on a variety of national and state/territory issues of relevance to our role in promoting good health, preventing illness and redressing inequities.

Our advice is underpinned by the evidence for effective health promotion policies and strategies and the needs of our members and all those working in the field of health promotion.

Often, AHPA collaborates with our partners on joint submissions.

Archived submissions are available on request.

 

In December 2022, the Australian Government released a Digital Platforms: Government consultation on ACCC's regulatory reform recommendations Consultation Paper and invited stakeholder views to inform Government on its response to the ACCC's fifth interim report for the Digital Platform Services inquiry. This report found the current regulatory settings in Australia inadequate at addressing specific competition and consumer issues and recommended a new regulatory framework.

The consultation process closed on 15 February 2023.

Read AHPA's submission here.

The submission was prepared by Rebecca Zosel, AHPA Executive Officer.

AHPA's submission focuses on the consumer protections required of digital platforms to prevent and reduce harms to health and wellbeing. AHPA strongly supports the recommendations from the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE). We also note the Australian Health Promotion Association’s recent submission to the Inquiry into Online Gambling and its impacts on problem gamblers, and reiterate AHPA’s recommendations as provided to this Inquiry (see here).

In 2023, the Australian Government will release a new stand alone Measuring What Matters Statement. The statement will draw on the OECD Framework for Measuring Well-being and Progress, but will be unique to the Australian context.

The Australian Government recently invited views on how we can better measure what matters to improve the lives of all Australians, and the application of the OECD framework to Australia.

The Measuring What Matters consultation process closed on 31 January 2023.

Read AHPA's submission here.

AHPA is involved in the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health. Read the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health submission here.

AHPA has signed a Joint Statement to Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) with 26 of Australia and New Zealand’s leading public health and consumer organisations to express strong support for the introduction of mandatory added sugar labelling.

On 5 December 2022 the Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services called for submissions from individuals, businesses and community groups on their views regarding priorities for the 2023‑24 Budget. The Pre-Budget Submission process for the 2023-24 Budget closed on 27 January 2023.

Read AHPA's submission here.

AHPA is involved in the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health. Read the Wellbeing and Prevention Coalition in Mental Health submission here.

AHPA recently made an online submission to the Senate Inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare and endorsed the report Achieving equal access: abortion care in Australia.

Action to increase equitable access to information, diagnosis, treatment and services for sexual and reproductive health is critical and consistent with the National Women’s Health Strategy

Signed on to two joint letters led by ACOSS from the community sector to Federal Election candidates calling on them to commit to two game-changer policies to reduce poverty and inequality. These policies are: lift income support payments to above the poverty line so everyone can cover the basic and invest in 25,000 social housing units each year as part of a National Housing Plan.

AHPA joined Obesity Policy Coalition and 20+ other health and consumer orgs to call for more work to be put into food regulatory reforms to put the health of Australians and New Zealanders first. Read more here.

AHPA recently supported the Australian Society for Pyhsical Activity's (ASPA) Three Transport Priorities. ASPA are calling for support from individuals and organisations. For further information click here.  

AHPA joined FARE and many other health groups in signing the Open letter: Put the health, wellbeing and safety of Australians first and abandon any plans to cut the price of alcohol. 

To view the letter of support click here

AHPA endorsed the ACOSS-led sector statement A Guarantee to the Nation: Community Sector Call to all Parties that calls for politicians to commit to affordable essential services, better income supports and social housing, and climate action now. Read the 8 December media release and download the statement here.

AHPA joined over 35 health and medical groups including the Climate and Health Alliance in producing an open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison calling for the Federal Government to scale up international climate commitments to protect the health and wellbeing of Australians and Pacific Island neighbours. This letter comes after international negotiations that took place in Glasgow at COP26. A copy of the letter dated 26 November is available here.

As part of AHPA’s support of the Raise the Age campaign, AHPA signed the open letter from health organisations on the medical evidence for raising the age to at least 14. Read the letter dated 6 December here.

AHPA seeks Expressions of Interest (EOI) from members to join the time-limited 2022 Election Advocacy Working Group. The Federal Election will occur on or before May 21 2022, and on behalf of our members, AHPA would like to ensure we influence the policy agenda and where required upskill our members in advocacy for health promotion. EOIs should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by COB 29 October 2021.

For more information click here.

AHPA collaborated with the Obesity Policy Coalition and other public health and consumer organisations to express support for the following:

1) that public health remains front and centre of reforms to the food regulatory system

2) that the responsibility for Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) is not moved to the Department of Agriculture

To view the letter of support click here.

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