Election 2025: Can we save the lives of 10,000 men?
With a Federal Election just 5 weeks away, there is an opportunity for men’s health advocates across Australia, to ask their local candidates what they will do to improve men’s health if elected.
ASK YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATES ABOUT MEN’S HEALTH
We are calling on everyone who is interested in improving the lives and health of men and boys in Australia to make a difference this election in one simple way: ask your local candidates what they will do to improve men’s health if they are elected.
You can download and forward a copy of our Federal Election Platform 2025: Can we save the lives of 10,000 men? to the candidates standing for election in your constituency.
We also have a small number of printed copies of this document which you can request by emailing [email protected]
THE CASE FOR ACTION ON MEN’S HEALTH
Every day, 50 Australian men die from preventable causes before the age of 75. Men over 75 also die at higher rates than women of the same age.
We estimate that reducing the number of male deaths to the same level as female deaths across 5 priority health issues would save the lives of more than 10,000 Australian men a year, including:
- 1,500+ men who die by suicide
- 4,500+ men who die from lung, skin, bowel and digestive system cancers
- 3,000+ men under 75 who die from heart disease and diabetes
- 1,500+ men who die from accidents and injuries
- 1,000+ men who die from drug & alcohol-induced death
IT’S TIME TO FUND MEN’S HEALTH
Since 2020, Australia has had parallel strategies for men’s health and for women’s health. Yet government funding and support for men and boys’ health has not kept pace with women and girls’ health.
Our recent analysis of the Federal Budget found that the Labor Government pledged $1.4B to support men’s and women’s health across four budgets (2022-2025), with less than 2% allocated to improving men’s health.
This is not a partisan issue. Our analysis found that the previous Coalition Government pledged $687m to improve women’s health across two budgets (2021-2022) and $1m to support men’s health.
Over the past six years (2019-2025), Australian Governments have spent around $180 billion a year on health, with just $7 million a year allocated to improving men’s health.
The men’s health sector does not advocate for funding or focus to be taken away from women’s health. We ask that specific funding is allocated to men’s health initiatives to support the goals of the National Men’s Health Strategy.
BACK THE MEN’S HEALTH SECTOR
The work of Australia’s men’s health sector is recognised worldwide. Together, we can make a significant difference to the lives and health of men and boys in Australia. Yet we are held back by a lack of long-term funding and leadership.
According to public opinion research commissioned by the Australian Men’s Health Forum, 91% of Australians say that it is okay for Governments to talk about men’s health and social issues.
In addition, 79% of Australians support additional Government funding to tackle men’s health and social issues.
OUR THREE KEY CALLS FOR ACTION
As the federal election approaches, we are calling on all parties and candidates to commit to improving the lives and health of men and boys in three key ways:
1. Fund Government Strategies
There are two national health strategies that need your MP’s support:
- Let’s fund the National Men’s Health Strategy and get behind those working to improve the lives and health of men and boys in Australia.
- 3 in 4 suicides are men. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy does not make men a priority population. Let’s fund a Male Suicide Prevention Action Plan to make sure this Strategy reaches men at risk of suicide.
2. Tackle Social Determinants
We need to address the social factors that shape men’s health, for example:
- Better education equals better health. Australia's education system delivers poorer outcomes for boys and young men at every stage. Improving boys' education today will improve men's health in the future. Let's take action and make boys' education a priority.
- Everyone's health and wellbeing are impacted by our experiences of fatherhood, particularly men and boys. Men need support to be the best dads they can be, in particular new dads, working dads and separated dads. Let's take action and support Aussie dads.
3. Back Local Men’s Projects
Grassroots men's groups need our support:
- We invite all political candidates to contact their local men's groups and learn about the important work they are doing to improve the lives and health of men and boys.
ASK YOUR LOCAL CANDIDATES ABOUT MEN’S HEALTH
You can make a difference for men and boys this election by asking your local candidates three questions:
- Do they know that 50 Australian men a day are dying from causes that could be prevented by investing in men and boys’ health?
- Do they know that Australian Governments spend $180 billion a year on health, with just $7 million a year allocated to improving men’s health?
- Will they back the men’s health sector’s call to allocate more funding to improve men’s health in the next parliament?
We’re keen to hear how your local candidates respond to these questions, so please email us with any responses to: [email protected] with the subject line “Election 2025”.
FURTHER READING:
Election 2025: How to take action for men’s health
Federal budget confirms men's health is not a national priority