Executive summary

Unhealthy diets and obesity are leading contributors to poor health in Australia. Addressing obesity and improving population diets requires a comprehensive government response at Commonwealth and State/Territory levels.

In 2017, a Food Policy Index was developed for Australia to assess the food and diet-related policies that were in place in each jurisdiction, and identify recommended actions for each government based on international best practice.

This report provides a follow up to the 2017 Food Policy Index report. It summarises and assesses the actions taken by Australian governments (July 2016 – December 2018) in relation to the recommended policies identified in the 2017 report. While each jurisdiction has made some progress in relation to the recommended policies, there is large variation in the actions taken by each jurisdiction, and there continues to be varying levels of implementation across Australia of internationally recommended policies. Australia needs a national co-ordinated approach to address unhealthy diets and obesity.

An increased focus on sharing of good practice with respect to policy design and implementation is required as part of the National Obesity Strategy that is currently under development.