Queensland Government to target state’s obese with new Health and Wellbeing Queensland Bill
The Queensland Government is set to target the obesity crisis plaguing more than 1.2 million Queenslanders, with the introduction of a new Bill aimed at making communities healthier.
QLD Politics
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD Politics. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE obesity crisis plaguing more than 1.2 million Queenslanders will be targeted as part of a new Bill introduced in Parliament this morning.
The Health and Wellbeing Queensland Bill 2019 will deliver on the Palaszczuk Government’s election commitment to create a health promotion commission, by establishing Health and Wellbeing Queensland as a statutory body.
Aussie researchers find link between obesity and the size of your brain
News Corp reveals major review into health star rating system
Men are losing the battle when it comes to obesity
Health Minister Steven Miles said 1.26 million Queenslanders were obese.
“Unable to fit in an airline or a bus seat. Unable to run with their kids,” he said.
“Many spend three half days a week strapped to a dialysis machine.
“Some can’t find work.
“Some have trouble finding or maintaining a relationship.
“We all represent many folk like this.”
The body will champion change at the individual and local community level, while partnering with governments and businesses, to make communities healthier - particularly disadvantaged communities.
Mr Miles said the body would aim to reduce the burden of chronic diseases, through targeting risk factors for those diseases such as obesity, low physical activity and poor nutrition.
“While I accept that everyone of us has to take some responsibility for our own health, I have not seen any evidence anywhere that the epidemic in Australia is the result of waves of people waking up and deciding one day they’d prefer to be fat,” he said.
“They don’t decide to be fat.
“Our society decides to make them fat.
“The people of Queensland need a champion against the goliath food companies that will use every trick in the book to keep them coming back to their unhealthy food.”
The Bill will now be referred to the Health, Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee.
$135m health bungle: Minister’s apology to affected businesses
Health Minister Steven Miles has apologised to businesses that have suffered delays because of the new Queensland Health payment system.
Hundreds of staff underpaid at Queensland utility
A Queensland Government-owned utility corporation has underpaid hundreds of its senior staff for more than a decade in a bungle that could have ripped off up to a quarter of its workforce.