Remember the squeals about Nanny state when Nats were in Opposition? And the squeals that we can’t possibly legislate against the high sugar foods that are killing our children and costing billions in healthcare bills cos that would be interfering in people’s freedom to choose and cos there isn’t really eveidnce for stuff? Can’t legislate to make Developers personallly liable for ten years for faulty work cos that would stop houses being built (no evidence of this either)?
Apparently sunbed operators are the biggest current threat to our current and future health which requires legislation priority…
Imagine if Coleman, as Minister for Helath was making the following statement
Public health advocates have called for a complete ban on all high sugar food, given the well-established link between these products and childhood obesity, diabetes, heart disaease and shortened life span the PM’s Chief Scientist, Peter Gluckman, has a report stating a sugar tax will help.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said there is a voluntary regime in place for the manufacture and sale of high sugar food but where there is is self regulation it is often ignored.
Because of the danger high sugar foods potentially pose it’s important to have a regulatory body and licensing/education regime to ensure manufacturers and retailers only provide food that has healthy outcomes.” This is made up. Coleman did not actually say this.
A report contains his views on sunbeds
Public health advocates have called for a complete ban, given the well-established link between sunbed use and skin cancer.
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said there was an existing voluntary standard in place for the use of sunbeds, but this was often ignored.
Because of the danger sunbeds potentially pose it’s important to have a licensing and training regime that ensures there are no cowboy operators in this industry.
To see what he thinks about his boss’s Chief Scientist’s recommendation from WHO’s Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity for dealing with high sugar foods read this link.
Evidence is a problem. Mostly because no one has tried it to enable it to be studied, so making the accusation of no clear evidence is an easy (and cowardly) out for any politician.
There is an attempt to get evidence though. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Using price policies to promote healthier diets. Copenhagen, Denmark: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2014.
The TPP throws an extra hurdle in the way. IF New Zealand brought in a tax, it might avoid being sued (M Hooton suggests we are small and insignificant so safe from being sued. He suggests only G8 countries get sued.). BUT not suing us would set a precedent (insofar as there is a system of precedent un the Investor Dispute Resolution Process. It might lead to other countries trying something new to defeat the problem.
In fairness, you can’t legislate for everything. So you prioritise. Children or clients of sunbed operators?. Children or client sof sunbed operators?. Its a tough one. For THIS Government.
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