Foundation Stones to be Laid for Non-Communicable Disease Prevention
The Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon is to attend the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in New York.
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19 September 2011
Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon will, this week, attend the United Nations General Assembly High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in New York.
Minister Roxon said the meeting would play an important role in influencing worldwide approaches to combating non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes.
“The international significance of this meeting cannot be underestimated. It is only the second time the UN General Assembly has met to deal specifically with health issues. This shows the serious challenge that non-communicable diseases pose to countries around the world.
“This will be an important opportunity for Australia to share the challenges we’ve faced in legislating plain packaging of tobacco, our successes so far and to talk about how we can work together with other countries to combat the dangers of smoking.
It’s important to remember that big tobacco isn’t fighting plain packaging in Australia because it is worried about losing profits here. Let’s face it, Australian tobacco profits pale in comparison with worldwide sales.
“Big tobacco is fighting so hard in Australia because it is desperately scared that other countries will follow our lead.
“I trust this UN meeting sees other countries around the world join Australia in staring down the misleading and intimidating tactics of big tobacco.”
Minister Roxon also explained that a key focus of the meeting would be combating obesity.
“The waist-lines of the world are expanding quickly, and this meeting will be the starting point for all of us to start tightening our belts.
“We know that prevention is better than cure. That it is better for our economy, our society and our health system. We also firmly believe that the whole community—individuals, families, schools, local councils, business and governments—has a role to play in tacking these issues.
“The challenges before us are great, but the Australian Government believes there is a strong commitment among countries to create an agreement that galvanizes global efforts to stem the tide of obesity.”
The UN meeting runs on 19 and 20 September 2011 in New York. Minister Roxon will have a parliamentary pair to attend the meeting.
For more information, contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7220
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