In November 2010, the Australian Parliament passed the Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill, investing $17.6 million in a new agency that will target smoking, obesity, alcohol consumption, and other substance abuse issues. Falling under an intergovernmental umbrella called the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health, the agency will be responsible for social marketing programs, a preventive health research fund, and a preventive workforce audit and strategy. By bringing together health experts to collect and evaluate evidence-based methods on the best ways to prevent chronic diseases, the group aims to encourage best practices and coordinate prevention campaigns across the country. Advice and recommendations will be released annually.
Sources:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/C9E613D4BE11C053CA2577DE007503B4/$File/nr175.pdf
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/agency-to-push-prevention-rather-than-cure-20101117-17xiv.html