Vic: Fischer to put Aboriginal health plan to Fed Parliament

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2000
Vic: Fischer to put Aboriginal health plan to Fed Parliament

By Jane Williams

MELBOURNE, Aug 8 AAP - A comprehensive health plan aimed at reducing deaths in both
remote and Aboriginal populations by 40 per cent will be presented to federal parliament
by former National Party leader Tim Fischer.

A medical conference in Melbourne was today told the project, aimed at giving better
access to health services and also providing more indigenous health workers was a step
towards "practical reconciliation".

Mr Fischer told the 48th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia
and New Zealand in Melbourne that he would ensure it fell into "fertile hands" in Canberra.

The plan was outlined by Professor Ian Ring, head of Queensland's James Cook University's
Public Health and Tropical Medicine department, who said it would cost extra $240 million
a year on top of the present health budget.

"We're not advocating a piecemeal approach but a comprehensive approach which takes
the full range of conditions into account," Professor Ring said.

The project aims to find ways to improve the supply of and subsidise the cost of fresh
fruit and vegetables to bush communities. It also encourages community ownership of all
indigenous health programs.

It also proposes a special anti-smoking campaign aimed at indigenous people.

Mr Fischer said the plan would rely on the cooperation between state, federal and local
governments and the local communities.

"I will personally take it forward to parliamentary sittings next week," Mr Fischer
told the conference.

He said about 30 per cent of the Australian population lived in non-metropolitan areas
"and there is a lot of work to be done there."

Professor Ring said the Federal Government was talking about the need for measures
of "practical reconciliation".

"A formal approach to the main cause of (Aboriginal) death ...would be an important
practical reconciliation measure."

AAP jmw/er/cjh

KEYWORD: RECONCILE HEALTH

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