Preventive Health SA Bill
Thuesday 17 October 2024
Ms CLANCY (Elder) (16:51): I rise today in support of the Preventive Health SA Bill to provide for the Office of Preventive Health SA and establish the Preventive Health SA Council. In cultures and communities right across the globe, many have long understood the value of prevention over cure. One such quote that is regularly shared comes from Benjamin Franklin, who famously advised fire-threatened Philadelphians that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
I would hope that we could all agree, though maybe we cannot all agree, that climate change mitigation and planning for bushfire seasons are better than fighting more frequent and severe bushfires every year. Our health care is no different. Prevention is better than cure, and as a government not just focused on the now but on the future, we are determined to ensure prevention is a key part of our health system. We can work now to ensure better health outcomes for decades to come—and we are.
While many South Australians experience good health, rates of chronic conditions are increasing. Combined with an ageing population, we have all seen the worst that can happen when a healthcare system cannot keep up with demand. One of the leading preventable risk factors contributing to total burden of disease is tobacco use. Currently 8.7 per cent of South Australians aged 15 years and over smoke. The use and availability of vapes among young people right across Australia is only making this serious public health challenge worse.
In 2022, 8.4 per cent of 15 to 29 year olds were regularly using e-cigarettes or vapes, which almost doubled to 15.1 per cent in 2023. Evidence clearly shows that young people who vape are five times more likely to take up smoking. So I am really proud to be part of a state government which is leading the nation in keeping the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco off our streets, an issue that can impact any community.
In May last year, residents in my electorate received a flyer in their letterbox advertising illegal cigarettes and vapes. After receiving a copy of this flyer, I shared this with SA Police, who investigated the proposed site of sale and seized the illegal products within the week. Earlier this year, our state government introduced the toughest penalties of any state or territory in the nation against the sale of illegal vapes and tobacco, including increasing penalties up to $1.5 million for some breaches and banning vending machine sales of tobacco products in public areas.
As well as smoking, other preventable risk factors include obesity, high blood pressure and alcohol use, with two in three adult South Australians being overweight or obese in 2022 and nearly one in three adult South Australians consuming alcohol that puts them at risk of harm from alcohol-related disease or injury.
Population data analysis and modelling recently commissioned by Preventive Health SA and undertaken by the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute shows that a substantial proportion of the South Australian population is at risk of poor health outcomes due to preventable risk factors. They expect that by 2029, an additional 1,900 children and 48,000 adults will be overweight or obese, almost 25,000 adults will be exceeding alcohol consumption guidelines, nearly 13,000 adults will report high to very high levels of psychological distress and nearly 6,000 adults will report suicidal ideation.
Clearly, we must take comprehensive action to reduce the growing burden of ill health and disease. That is why prior to returning to government the Malinauskas Labor team promised to create a new and independent prevention agency with a mandate to develop evidence-based programs and policies to keep South Australians healthy. Early this year, we kept that promise by establishing Preventive Health SA to strengthen the prevention agenda in South Australia through the consolidation of key prevention functions in a single agency.
As the Premier's Advocate for Suicide Prevention and Chair of the Suicide Prevention Council, I have seen firsthand the work done by Preventive Health SA to support our work and the work of community suicide prevention initiatives. I am very grateful for the excellent staff I have the privilege of working with at Preventive Health through these positions. Your knowledge, expertise and passion are so appreciated.
Preventive Health SA plays a critical role in supporting the implementation of the South Australian Suicide Prevention Plan, which recognises that everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention and provides a framework for prescribed state authorities to develop their own suicide prevention action plans. Preventive Health SA has also been instrumental in helping to establish and support suicide prevention networks right across our state. Suicide prevention networks are central to South Australia's community-focused approach to suicide prevention and are run by incredible volunteers, who are some of the best people you will ever meet.
These networks aim to raise awareness, reduce stigma and foster community connection, education and help-seeking behaviours. Suicide prevention networks play such an important role in enabling communities to build their own capacity to boost mental wellbeing, prevent suicide and develop postvention strategies. I love meeting with and speaking with these networks, who know their communities deeply. Every community is different, and these networks know what works best for their communities to improve connection and resilience.
The Preventive Health SA Bill 2024 formally recognises Preventive Health SA as a cornerstone of health policy in South Australia and enshrines the infrastructure we need for long-lasting, positive change. The Preventive Health SA Council will include experts across areas like epidemiology, preventive health research, health equity, finance, economics and business. It will also ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices remain central to its work.
Similarly to the Suicide Prevention Act 2021, this bill represents a pioneering approach that embeds critical issues into the framework of our health system. By establishing dedicated councils for both suicide prevention and preventive health, we are contributing to sustainable, systematic change that prioritises wellbeing at multiple levels in the community. In legislating measures that tackle tobacco use, vaping, alcohol and other drugs, obesity, healthy eating, physical activity, mental health and suicide, we have the opportunity to improve the health and longevity of all South Australians.
This approach not only reduces the burden on the healthcare system but also promotes equity by targeting the underlying social determinants of health that disproportionately affect lower socio-economic groups. Effective prevention does not just improve individual lives, it strengthens communities. A healthier workforce that is more productive and engaged brings more South Australians together to live happier, more fulfilling lives, and at the same time we generate positive economic outcomes for our state.
The impact of suicide extends far beyond the immediate and ongoing emotional toll on families and communities; it also has significant economic repercussions. A 2024 UK report on the cost of suicide estimated that, when considering various factors such as employment productivity, healthcare costs and emergency services expenses as well as coroner and legal costs, the average cost of a single suicide for someone aged 30 to 34 is around £1.46 million or $A3 million. This figure is likely a conservative estimate and the true economic impact may be even higher. While I wish it was not so, understanding these costs is necessary for some to better appreciate the urgent need for effective mental health interventions and support systems that not only save lives but also protect the wellbeing of our communities and economy.
Enshrining a permanent agency dedicated to preventive health shows we are not just reacting to health issues as they arise but proactively working to create a healthier future for all South Australians. This bill goes beyond health care. It aims to create a system and environment that supports every South Australian to live their healthiest life. Its focus is on reducing long-term healthcare costs, improving the quality of life for disadvantaged communities and ensuring everyone can fully participate in the life and opportunities of our state.
I am proud to be part of a state government that is leading the way in preventive health. With the strength of our community and guidance from expert councils, we can ensure that good health becomes a right for all South Australians, not just a privilege. Together, we can build a healthier, more inclusive state. In closing, I would like to thank one of my favourite people, our Minister for Health and Wellbeing, and everyone in his team for their work in bringing this bill to us.
The Hon. A. Michaels interjecting:
Ms CLANCY: He did not even notice. I look forward to the successful passage of this bill and my continued work with Preventive Health SA and commend this bill to the house.
