Food and beverage industry groups have weighed in on the sugar tax debate which hit the agenda again in parliament this week.
Federal Liberal MP Russell Broadbent called on the government to look at a 10 per cent tax on sugary drinks to fund sporting facilities to help combat childhood obesity and diabetes.
Although Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce immediately dismissed the suggestion, horticulture body Ausveg took the opportunity to call for more government intervention to try and tackle some of the root causes of obesity.
“As a nation, we need to get serious about our health,” Ausveg CEO Simon Bolles said.
“The revenue raised from a tax on sugar-heavy water-based drinks could provide funding for large-scale, long-term public health campaigns to help fight the obesity epidemic, to encourage Australians to make healthier choices.”
“All options should be on the table – including the introduction of targeted, product-specific taxes that can raise valuable funds for preventative health measures, including eating more fresh vegetables.”
The Australian Food and Grocery Council also responded, saying there was no evidence that taxing sugar would make an impact on obesity levels.
The debate follows on from the surprise decision in March by the UK government to introduce a tax on soft drinks.
At the time Australian Beverages Council CEO, Geoff Parker said a growing body evidence from around the world demonstrated taxes on soft drink were ineffective in combating obesity.
When it comes to discretionary foods, he said, research shows soft drinks rank only seventh in kilojoule contribution, and provide a very small proportion of daily kilojoules.
“It is absurd to think this will solve obesity when soft drinks contribute just 1.7 per cent of the daily intake of kilojoules for Australian adults,” Parker said at the time.
