Baillieu cuts funding from Oakleigh kids healthy living programs
The fight against lifestyle disease such as type 2 diabetes and childhood obesity has taken a severe hit as part of the Baillieu Government’s million dollar cuts to education and early childhood programs across Victoria.
Ann Barker, State Member for Oakleigh, said the Baillieu Government had cut funding from Kids – ‘Go for your life’ programs from schools across the Oakleigh electorate that tackled issues such as obesity in school children.
“More than 320,000 children in more than 2200 centres and primary schools across Victoria will no longer have access to Kids – ‘Go for your life’ programs,” Ann Barker said.
“By refusing to fund Kids – ‘Go for your life’ past July 1 this year, Health Minister David Davis is walking away from the fight against lifestyle diseases in school children across the electorate.”
The Kids – ‘Go for your life’ program, which started under Labor, helped educate Victorian primary school children about healthy eating and physical activity to help combat lifestyles diseases.
Ann Barker said the Baillieu Government cuts to Kids – ‘Go for your life’ would mean following schools would no longer receive funding:
- Amsleigh Park Primary
- Carnegie Primary
- Glen Huntly Primary
- Katandra School
- Murrumbeena Primary
- Oakleigh Primary
“This is the latest blow in the Baillieu Government’s savage $960 million cuts to Victorian Education, Early Childhood and Health budgets,” she said.
“Families are already digesting Mr Baillieu’s decision to axe occasional childcare, and stripping Victorian kinders of internet access.”
Ann Barker said Labor invested $6.2 million in Kids – ‘Go for your life’ over five years to encourage better eating habits, improved nutrition, and promote exercise in school children.
“About one-quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese, which is largely due to poor diet and increasing inactivity,” she said.
“That is why Kids – ‘Go for your life’ is so important, as it helps educate our children and start healthy habits for life."
“Children’s lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes, left unchecked, will be a problem for future generations and preventative action needs to be taken now, however Mr Davis has his head firmly in the sand on this issue."
“Mr Davis’ decision to pull funding from Kids – ‘Go for your life’ is another cruel blow for hard-working families.
“The program was successfully run by The Cancer Council Victoria and Diabetes Australia Victoria."
“Mr Baillieu needs stop treating the health of our children with contempt and reinstate funding to Kids – ‘Go for your life’.”
20 July, 2011
