Diabetes report recommends sugar tax, advertising ban [Video]

Junk food manufacturers would be restricted from advertising to children and hit with a levy based on the sugar content of their products in a range of measures put forward by federal MPs to tackle the diabetes epidemic gripping Australia’s health system.

But the sugar tax proposal has split the committee making the recommendations, with Coalition members arguing the levy lacks evidence and would hit low-income families the hardest during a cost-of-living crisis.

Tabling the final report on Wednesday night, Labor MP and committee chair Mike Freelander said the inquiry had heard “harrowing and emotional” testimonies from people with diabetes, and it was clear the government should focus on preventing children in particular from developing the condition in the …