A revitalised public health strategy offers the most sustainable way to address current health inequalities and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases.

Success in these goals requires a whole-of-government approach and long-term investments. A sizeable proportion of this investment must be outside the health sector, in the social, economic and environmental fabric of our society.

The benefits of the federal government’s proposed prevention agenda will only be realised if there is greater clarity about what constitutes preventive health activity, who is responsible for carrying out the preventive agenda, how it is integrated and funded within the health care system, and how prevention outcomes will be measured and evaluated.