Exercise physiology faces heavy taxation as politicians compete in fitness competition

Twenty MPs and senators are raising awareness for Australia’s growing rate of obesity and decline in exercise, with exercise physiology still taxed heavily.

Australian MPs have joined a ­national exercise challenge amid alarm at rising rates of chronic disease, as health bodies call for major reform in the taxation of exercise physiology.

Since 2006, exercise physiology, which covers exercise treatments related to specific physical goals, has been an official allied health profession covered by Medicare and NDIS. Many people living with obesity – almost one-third of Australians are obese – are prescribed exercise physiology as part of multidisciplinary care in the difficult task of weight loss.

Unlike other essential services such as aged care or disability care, it is not exempt from GST and ­people living with obesity can access only five Medicare-funded sessions a year.

Exercise and Sports Science Australia has argued against this division, given exercise physiology is one of the most crucial of allied health services for overweight and obese people, and the addition of GST puts financial stress on ­patients who are usually already engaged in several other allied health services.

“Over years of lobbying, every politician I have spoken to agrees that it makes no sense for exercise physiology not to be GST-­exempt,” the chair of the WA chapter of Exercise and Sports Science Australia, David Beard, said.

“However, getting a federal treasurer to push for change has been a struggle. I’m hopeful Jim Chalmers will finally take action and fix this obvious anomaly.

“I’m nearing the end of my ­career but if I can get exercise physiology GST-exempt status, it will have a lasting effect on not just the health system, but the profession for years to come.”

Exercise Physiology is the fastest growing health profession in Australia.

Many politicians are stressing the importance of health and exercise, with the Fit For Office campaign looking to address rising obesity and inactivity to run from Tuesday, September 25, to Oct­ober 22.

Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

Member for Eden-Monaro Kirsty McBain. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Some 20 senators and federal politicians, along with 100 of their staff, have signed up for the fitness competition.

Five senators in David Pocock, Anne Ruston, Malarndirri McCarthy, Dorinda Cox and Tammy Tyrrell are competing alongside 14 MPs: Andrew Leigh, Kristy McBain, Melissa McIntosh, Angie Bell, Sophie Scamps, Allegra Spender, Helen Haines, Fiona Phillips, Susan Templeman, Zoe Daniel, Bridget Archer, Alison Byrnes, Melissa Price and Rebekha Sharkie.

Jacqui Lambie Network Senator Tyrrell said she was determined to use the Fit For Office campaign to improve her long-term health and outlive her mother, who passed away from health complications at 54, only one year older than Senator Tyrrell was now.

“I have to get healthier, I’m not getting any younger,” she said.

“If you’ve hung out with any politicians in the last year or so, you know we’re a very unhealthy bunch.

“We’re stuck inside, we sit down a lot, we go to a lot of meetings, we go to a lot of functions and we don’t spend enough time on our personal health.”

Senator Tammy Tyrell is hoping more politicians can focus on their physical health. Picture: Ken Drake

Healthcare systems have been under strain in Tasmania, with Senator Tyrrell calling for more schemes that address rising ­inactivity.

“If there’d been programs available to me and some of my family members, we would have jumped on board because we want to be healthy,” she said.

The Fit For Office campaign was organised by AUSactive, which has called on the federal government to accelerate its current preventive health strategy.

Australia has the sixth highest obesity rate in the world, with 67 per cent of Australians deemed overweight or obese.

The Fit For Office competition tracks the overall physical activity of competitors using heart rate monitors, tallying up a leaderboard of the most active MPs and their teams.

“Exercise isn’t just a matter of getting physically fit for office, it’s essential to mental health too,” Wentworth MP Ms Spender said.

“Running keeps me sane – I couldn’t do this job, and I would not be happy if I didn’t manage to slip away at least four times a week for a quick half hour, listening to podcasts or music outside as the sun comes up.

“At parliament, I sometimes play basketball with others on Tuesday mornings, which is also great fun and a way to get to know people outside the chamber.”