Greens’ spokesperson for health, Senator Richard Di Natale, has questioned the government decision to close down a $200 million scheme aimed at preventing diabetes.

“You have to question the wisdom of cutting funding for preventative health programs when Australia is experiencing a worsening chronic disease epidemic,” said Senator Di Natale.

“Cutting preventative health programs in the blinkered race to a budget surplus is false accounting because the money saved now will be paid out several times over through the health system in the years to come if the growing rates of diabetes and chronic diseases go unchecked.”

According to Diabetes Australia, there are 2 million Australian adults considered at high-risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

“The cost of diabetes to the health system is already about $12 billion a year so a failure to adequately invest in preventative health measures now amounts to economic negligence.

“The government should redouble its efforts and re-invest this money in preventable health programs as soon as possible. Every dollar spent now will save several if the worsening epidemic of diabetes and other preventable diseases can be slowed.”

Media contact: Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600