Introduction by Croakey: One unexpected outcome of the Queensland election campaign is support from both the Government and Opposition going forward for cheap public transport.
And one lesson from this important public health gain, according to Dr Aletha Ward of the University of Southern Queensland, is the value of bringing bold, strategic public health proposals to the federal election table.
Ward also warns about the dangers of climate inaction for Queenslanders – especially farmers and rural communities – and calls for political parties and leaders “to prioritise renewable energy as the most effective way to safeguard public health”.
Aletha Ward writes:
In the upcoming federal election, I urge political parties to commit to a fresh fruit and vegetable subsidy – a policy to address public health, food security, and agricultural sustainability in the cost-of-living crisis.
Subsidising fresh produce would make nutritious foods more affordable, particularly benefiting low-income households facing rising food costs.
With increasing rates of preventable chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, this subsidy would support healthier food intake without adding financial strain.
Prioritising Australian-grown produce would also boost local farmers and rural economies, fostering resilience and reducing dependency on imports.
Precarious balance
The Queensland election outcome places public health in a precarious balance, where increased funding promises must be backed by clear, actionable strategies to address fundamental health issues such as housing insecurity and the cost-of-living crisis.
While the LNP’s platform prioritises health and social challenges, the lack of detail in their 100-day plan and overall policies raises concerns about how these goals will be achieved.
Without specific steps on preventative health and clear accountability frameworks, the healthcare system may ultimately bear the burden of treating preventable conditions, especially those intensified by Queensland’s environmental and economic stressors.
Given the state’s rising rates of housing and food insecurity, and difficulty accessing affordable primary healthcare driven by the cost-of-living crisis, public health strategies must address these core determinants to provide genuine health improvements.
If these issues remain unaddressed or lack preventative approaches, pressures on the healthcare system will grow, pushing demand up for acute and emergency services rather than focusing on upstream, long-term solutions that improve community health.
Critical juncture
The long-term costs of climate inaction for Queenslanders are profound, with the LNP’s continued support for coal power and fossil fuel dependency deepening these risks.
Queensland, as Australia’s most climate-affected state, stands at a critical juncture where every policy decision on energy and the environment has profound consequences. Reliance on fossil fuels not only heightens the state’s carbon footprint, but undermines public health, destabilises food security, and threatens economic stability.
For already stressed ecosystems, further fossil fuel reliance accelerates biodiversity loss. Vulnerable populations – particularly in rural and coastal areas – face compounded impacts, as rising temperatures, extreme weather, and disrupted growing seasons intensify health complications, diminish agricultural yields, and strain local economies.
Ironically, many Queenslanders who supported the LNP, including farmers and rural communities, will bear the heaviest burden from climate inaction. These groups, reliant on natural resources and stable weather, face the harshest consequences of policy choices that protect fossil fuel interests over long-term community welfare.
This dynamic reflects a form of ‘class warfare’, where those with the least capacity to adapt carry the brunt on climate impacts, while industries profiting from fossil fuels retain political influence and financial stability.
Shifting towards renewable energy provides rural Queenslanders with economic resilience, improved health outcomes, and climate security.
Direct benefits
The Queensland election outcome demonstrates that cost-of-living measures with direct benefits, like 50 cent public transport fares, resonate strongly with voters.
The continuation of subsidised transport fares for the next four years shows how policies that directly impact household budgets can gain cross-party traction.
However, the LNP’s refusal to adopt free school lunches – a policy that could alleviate financial pressure on low income families – signals a narrower approach to addressing living costs.
As we look toward the federal election, there is a clear message here – policies that directly reduce everyday expenses are popular and have measurable impacts on families’ financial security.
The Queensland LNP’s ‘cost-of-living’ commitment to halting budget blowouts on public infrastructure in their 100-day plan is intended as a cost-saving measure, but without clarity on how this directly impacts Queenslander’s daily budgets, the benefits remain uncertain.
For the federal level, this indicates that voters will likely favour broad-based cost-of-living policies that provide tangible relief – direct financial supports, which make an immediate difference in household budgets.
Reflections for federal election
A major concern for health advocacy in the lead-up to the federal election is the Coalition’s push for nuclear power, a costly and lengthy endeavour when renewable energy offers an immediate, safer solution.
The potential shift towards nuclear energy raises serious health and environmental risks, particularly in a nation already facing severe climate impacts. Additionally, nuclear waste management remains a significant challenge, with no fail-proof solution, posing a perpetual risk of contamination for generations to come.
Economically, nuclear energy is neither quick nor cost effective, with the Coalition’s nuclear plan likely diverting essential resources from infrastructure, and renewable projects that could yield immediate health benefits and sustainable jobs.
Delaying the shift to renewables means prolonging exposure to climate-exacerbated health issues, including respiratory diseases linked to air pollution from fossil fuels, and the escalating weather impacts from rising emissions. Forcing a nuclear agenda disregards the urgent need to cut emissions to protect public health.
Given these realities, health professionals and more broadly the community must urge political parties and leaders to prioritise renewable energy as the most effective way to safeguard public health.
About the author
Dr Aletha Ward is Senior Research Lead – First Nations at the University of Southern Queensland. She is active in climate and health research and advocacy, including as:
- Co-Founder and Ambassador – Climate Action Nurses
- Chair Climate and Health Faculty – Australian College of Nursing
- Non-Executive Director – Climate and Health Alliance
- Leadership team – Planetary Health Collaborative for Nurses and Midwives
- Climate and Health Representative – Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association.
See Croakey’s previous articles on the Queensland 2024 election
