A NZ Herald editorial eloquently dismisses the ‘nanny state’ and ‘freedom to choose’ arguments put up by opponents of the Public Health Bill. These opponents want to remove provisions in the Bill relating to obesity prevention.
It would allow for regulations “to reduce, or assist in reducing, risk factors associated with, or related to, non-communicable diseases”. Opponents need to state clearly what they find objectionable about that aim.
When the taxpayer, of whose money the state has a duty of stewardship, is picking up the cost of treating illness, the state has a legitimate claim to exercising some controls over the incidence of it.
Read more: NZ Herald, 16 March 2008