Interview with the Hon. Dr Michael Wooldridge: tobacco control was the best buy in health then and it’s still the best buy now

Abstract

The late 1990s marked a turning point for tobacco control in Australia. In March 1996, the Liberal-National Coalition won government after 13 years of Labor rule. Prime Minister John Howard had campaigned on cutting expenditure, and had long been a proponent of small government and the private sector. Yet within 2 years of taking office, the Howard Government funded Australia’s first big budget National Tobacco Campaign and commenced a review of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 to phase out industry sponsorship of international sporting events. The Honourable Dr Michael Wooldridge, Minister for Health from 1996 to his retirement from politics in 2001, reflects on how these reforms to tobacco control were achieved and how the public health community can best engage with policy makers to advocate for reform. He stresses the importance of public health not being defined by ideology, and that politicians must be scientifically well informed and supported in doing what is in the nation’s best interest for public health. He assesses the current state of play and argues more investment in tobacco control is needed today, suggesting it remains the “best buy” in health.