Have we compromised too much? A critical analysis of nutrition policy in Australia 2007-2018

AbstractObjective:A comprehensive nutrition policy containing a broad package of cross-sector and synergistic policy actions is required to attenuate the systemic drivers of poor nutrition. The current study aims to critically analyse trends in the scope of federal nutrition policy actions in Australia between 2007 and 2018 by: (1) describing the changes in nutrition policy actions, benchmarked against an international best-practice policy framework and (2) investigating how and why the scope of these policy actions have changed over time by examining the decision-making processes that led to the establishment of Australia’s Healthy Food Partnership (the Partnership).Design:Qualitative case study involving documentary analysis and key-informant interviews. Australian federal government documents (n 10) were analysed against the NOURISHING framework. Key informants (n 6) were interviewed and asked about the Partnership’s decision-making and establishment processes.Setting:Australia.Participants:Executive Committee (the Partnership’s governing body) and working group members.Results:From 2007 to 2018, the scope of Australian national nutrition policy has fluctuated from evidence-informed recommendations for a comprehensive policy to the mostly discrete policy actions of the Partnership. Themes of ‘pragmatism and compromise’, ‘actor relationships and lobbying’ and ‘political context’ were critical drivers for establishing the Partnership.Conclusion:The narrowing of Australian nutrition policy reflects a response to political expediency and compromise. This political dynamic highlights a dilemma facing nutrition policy advocates: should (and if so, how) a balance be sought between the aspirational but possibly unrealistic goals, and the limited but likely deliverable outcomes during policy-making processes? These findings have relevance for developing a future comprehensive national nutrition policy.