❓ Mr. Cook questions the Minister for Health regarding the 2011 review of the Tobacco Products Control Act and its implementation. The Minister defends his approach to Healthway board composition, favouring a broader representation over public health advocates.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOBACCO PRODUCTS CONTROL ACT — REVIEW
866. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's recent comments attacking
the board of Healthway, and his failure to defend public health advocates.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the 2011 review of the Tobacco Products Control Act
presented options for changes to the act and the way health promotion and
tobacco control operated in this state?
(2) Can the
minister also confirm that he has sat on this review for the past three years?
(3) Can the
minister also confirm that public health stakeholders have repeatedly called
for the review options to be implemented to usher in new tobacco controls and
health promotion governance, with little response from the minister?
866. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Minister for Health:
I refer to the minister's recent comments attacking
the board of Healthway, and his failure to defend public health advocates.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that the 2011 review of the Tobacco Products Control Act
presented options for changes to the act and the way health promotion and
tobacco control operated in this state?
(2) Can the
minister also confirm that he has sat on this review for the past three years?
(3) Can the
minister also confirm that public health stakeholders have repeatedly called
for the review options to be implemented to usher in new tobacco controls and
health promotion governance, with little response from the minister?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) There
are a few aspects to that answer, because it is clearly a very long question.
The review that was done recommended that the board of Healthway be changed to
bring more people onto the board who were public health advocates—people
who were the subject of the current criticism. The review wanted us to put more
people on with that role, but we have formed the view that that is not the
direction we want to go with Healthway. We want to have more of a Lotteries
Commission style board, which is the modern style of board, which does not
include sectional interest groups. That is the key problem that we have had in
the past two years, with groups from different areas of interest that are
constantly in conflict. We will have a broader representation, like a normal
board, of people who can listen to all those interest groups and make
decisions. Their prime focus, as is in their recommendations, is to reduce the
incidence of smoking in the community and look at other areas of health
promotion—just last week I read Hon Keith Wilson's second
reading speech when he introduced the legislation in the first place—to
focus on public areas of interest in health, such as obesity, alcohol and
tobacco. I am considering changing the board to do those things.
are a few aspects to that answer, because it is clearly a very long question.
The review that was done recommended that the board of Healthway be changed to
bring more people onto the board who were public health advocates—people
who were the subject of the current criticism. The review wanted us to put more
people on with that role, but we have formed the view that that is not the
direction we want to go with Healthway. We want to have more of a Lotteries
Commission style board, which is the modern style of board, which does not
include sectional interest groups. That is the key problem that we have had in
the past two years, with groups from different areas of interest that are
constantly in conflict. We will have a broader representation, like a normal
board, of people who can listen to all those interest groups and make
decisions. Their prime focus, as is in their recommendations, is to reduce the
incidence of smoking in the community and look at other areas of health
promotion—just last week I read Hon Keith Wilson's second
reading speech when he introduced the legislation in the first place—to
focus on public areas of interest in health, such as obesity, alcohol and
tobacco. I am considering changing the board to do those things.
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