Australian National Preventive Health
Agency (Abolition) Bill 2014
Portfolio:
Health
Introduced: House of
Representatives, 15 May 2014
1.1
The Australian National Preventive Health Agency (Abolition) Bill 2014 (the
bill) will repeal the Australian National Preventive Health Agency Act 2010,
with the purpose of abolishing the Australian National Preventive Health Agency
(ANPHA).
1.2
The bill is accompanied by a statement of compatibility which states
that the bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms, and
concludes that the bill is compatible with human rights.
1.3
The committee considers that the bill does not appear to give
rise to human rights concerns.
1.4
However, the committee notes that the function of the ANPHA is to
promote and develop preventive health policy at territory, state and government
levels and, in this respect, the bill may be seen as engaging the right to
health.[1]
1.5
The explanatory memorandum for the bill notes that abolishing
ANPHA is intended to remove 'overlapping responsibilities' between it and the
Department of Health, which have resulted in 'duplication of administrative,
policy and programme functions and a fragmented approach to public health
efforts'. It states:
The Bill will enable preventive health efforts currently
spread across two Commonwealth agencies to be streamlined, focused and better
coordinated and will remove unnecessary duplication and costs...
The department will continue to have a national leadership
role on relevant preventive health issues, providing advice on health promotion
and disease prevention to the Commonwealth Minister for Health and supporting
specific preventive health measures, including but not limited to the promotion
of a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition; reducing tobacco use; reducing the harmful
drinking of alcohol; discouraging substance abuse; and reducing the incidence
of obesity amongst Australians.[2]
1.6
The committee notes that, while the purpose of the bill is to
better coordinate and re-allocate the activities of ANPHA, any consequent reduction
in effective preventive health activities could result in a limitation of the
right to health. The committee's assessment assumes that the policy of
streamlining and reallocating of ANPHA's activities will be effective.
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