Page: 774
The Hon. JAN BURNSWOODS [11.15 p.m.]: I congratulate the New South Wales Government, and in particular the Premier, the Minister for Health, and the Minister for Education, on the policy announced a couple of weeks ago in relation to the banning of soft drinks from schools as one of a number of strategies to deal with the increasing problem of childhood obesity. In a media release issued on 23 May those Ministers go into detail in relation to banning soft drinks from school canteens, a policy which, as Ms Tebbutt says, will be introduced in the first term of 2007 and will prevent the sale in school canteens of sugar sweetened drinks such as soft drinks, energy drinks, flavoured mineral waters, and sports drinks.
There is a lot of detail in the media release about a study undertaken known as the Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey [SPANS], which involved 93 schools across the State and almost 5,500 students aged between five and 16. It is described as the most comprehensive survey into the exercise and eating habits of young people ever conducted in Australia. The ban on soft drinks fits in with various other policies the Government has adopted over recent times, and in particular it fits in with the very successful Healthy Canteens strategy.
I will just refer to a few of the other programs mentioned by Minister Hatzistergos in relation to the $4 million of childhood obesity initiatives that have emanated over recent years from NSW Health. They include the Hunter New England Childhood Obesity Prevention Program—the largest of such programs—the research being conducted by the New South Wales Centre for Overweight and Obesity, the New South Wales Centre for Physical Activity and Health, the New South Wales Centre for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Sydney and, as I have mentioned already, the Healthy Canteens strategy.
I would also like to draw attention to some of the programs dealing with the exercise side of the equation, for instance, the New South Wales School Sports Foundation. There have also been grants for programs that promote healthy behaviours, such as the Local Government Active Communities Grants Program and the Australian Breastfeeding Association, which promotes the known benefits of breastfeeding on later childhood weight and wellbeing. I would also like to mention that a report of the social issues committee in relation to dental services tabled some months ago dealt in part with the problem of childhood obesity and other issues that arise from poor nutrition and unhealthy eating. To give an idea of some of the evidence we received in this important inquiry I shall quote from statements made to the committee by Associate Professor Cockrell. She said:
The black cola drinks are supposed to be the worst because of the concentration of phosphoric acid, especially if you have a twist of lime in it because you have got a bit of citric acid in it as well. All of the soft drinks have the same effect in terms of erosion of enamel, and sugar consumption.
I draw the attention of members to other things in the report that draw very clear links between the consumption of high levels of sugar in such things as soft drinks, the links between poor nutrition and oral disease, and the way in which these things lead to tooth decay and can lead to diabetes and all sorts of problems in adulthood. This is a very important area and I congratulate the Government on the initiatives it is taking.
Motion agreed to.
The House adjourned at 11.20 p.m. until Thursday 8 June 2006 at 11.00 a.m.
_______________
Last modified 05/12/2007 16:32:36 : Update this page