Taskforce 'will cut Indigenous health gap'
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Closing the gap: tackling tobacco, alcohol-related diseases (AAP: Dave Hunt)
The Federal Government's preventative health taskforce says tackling diseases caused by obesity, tobacco and alcohol will help to reduce the 17-year gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The taskforce yesterday released its first discussion paper, recommending a significant increase in the cost of cigarettes, a restriction on the opening hours of alcohol outlets, and shielding children from unhealthy food marketing.
Its chairman, Professor Rob Moodie, says the gap in life expectancy has a lot to do with diseases related to obesity, drinking and smoking.
"We have to be able to work with Indigenous communities too because we need to be able to contribute to closing that gap in life expectancy," he said.
"So these are three important areas where we need to be working with Indigenous communities."
Professor Moodie says one recommendation is to change taxes to steer people away from high-alcohol drinks.
"We've already seen that in the Northern Territory with very good results, where you get increased pricing of higher alcohol content products which has a very good effect in lowering alcohol-related damage," he said.
"It's the same with tobacco - we know that consumption is very price sensitive."
