The country's peak body for public health has enthusiastically welcomed a national first: the Western Australian Government's establishment today of a Minister of Preventative Health.
"We congratulate Sabine Winton to this historic Cabinet post, and wish her every success in this new role," Public Health Association of Australia WA Branch President, Ainslie Sartori, said.
"We also welcome the appointment of Meredith Hammat to the Health and Mental Health portfolios.
"We're pleased that Premier Roger Cook in his unveiling of his Ministry has linked preventive health's capacity to 'reduce demand in our hospitals over the long term'.
"This is an exciting development, and the association and our fellow public health agencies will work hard to ensure the new Ministerial portfolio makes a real difference to the health of people in WA.
"We'll continue to press for regular public reporting of progress and an increased investment in prevention, to ensure our WA health system is sustainable and cost effective."
Since the Sustainable Health Review in 2019 the Labor Government has committed to the target of allocating 5% of the state's health expenditure to preventive health efforts.
This target was temporarily surpassed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but since the worst of the pandemic has passed, PHAA estimates the figure has dropped to closer to 3%.
During his 8 March state election victory speech, Premier Cook said his new government would work to ensure that residents lived in "the healthiest state in the country."
PHAA CEO, Adj Prof Terry Slevin, said there was enormous potential for WA to realise that goal, and set an example across the Commonwealth.
"To achieve that, the new government will need to promote the uptake of healthy eating, make it easier for people to do physical activity, encourage participation in proven vaccination and screening programs, and push down rates of drinking, smoking, and vaping. And much more.
"This new Cabinet role sends a signal to other jurisdictions that they too can prioritise preventive health at the highest level.
"We urge whoever forms the next Australian Government to create a national Minister for Preventive Health so that person can lead the push for investing 5% of total health expenditure on preventive health measures."
