On 28 February 2019, Health and Ambulance Services Minister Steven Miles, introduced a bill into Parliament to establish a health promotion agency, called Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQ). One of the main objectives of the bill is to establish new ways to address levels of obesity and chronic disease within Queensland.
HWQ is designed to be an independent statutory body, which will operate in partnership with relevant organisations across the health sector to promote better eating, becoming active, and healthier environments.
HWQ will also be involved in facilitating investments and activities to grow partnerships with sectors which are not traditionally linked to health or health care services. This may include sporting clubs, parenting groups and local government.
The bill is expected to be debated in Parliament in May 2019.
Read the Queensland Government’s Media Statement here and the Bill here.