The Tasmanian government must provide budget certainty to the Tasmanian School Canteen Association (TSCA), Family Food Patch and Move Well Eat Well after the federal budget prematurely ended the National Partnership on Preventative Health.
The National Partnerships Agreement on Preventative Health was due to run until 2018 but, thanks to the callous federal budget, funding will now cease on 1 July this year,” Greens Education spokesperson Nick McKim MP said.
As a result, the TSCA, Family Food Patch and Move Well Eat Well are all facing major funding challenges which the state government must now respond to.
“These programs are crucial to reduce long term pressure on our critical health care system, increase awareness of healthy lifestyles, and improve wellbeing and educational outcomes for Tasmanian students. They are simply too important to be sacrificed on the altar of the Liberal’s fake budget crisis.”
“The only option now is for the State government to step in and restore the funding for these programs that their colleagues in Canberra short-sightedly slashed with no consultation whatsoever.”
“This cannot wait until the state budget that was delayed by the Liberals, which is now not due until well after the National Partnership funding expires in just five weeks’ time.”
“The TSCA has done a great job working with schools, school communities, and other fantastic programs like Move Well Eat Well and the Family Food Patch, to improve nutrition and awareness of a healthy lifestyle, particularly in disadvantaged areas.”
“The Liberals say they want Tasmania’s population to be the healthiest in the country. Well here’s their chance to pay more than just lip service to the concept of preventative health,” Mr McKim said.
