Today's ministerial statement on active travel, released by Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, is an emphatic statement that the federal government has a strong and important role to play in getting more people more active through walking, cycling and public transport.

"The statement - Walking, Riding and Access to Public Transport (WRAPT) - marks a long-overdue watershed for Commonwealth participation in all forms of transport, not just cars and freight," the Heart Foundation's Director of Cardiovascular Health, Dr Rob Grenfell, said after the report's release.

"The Heart Foundation places a high priority on active travel as it is one of the easiest ways of building 30 minutes of exercise into busy lives. It helps to reconnect us with those forgotten forms of locomotion - our legs.

"Physical inactivity is a grossly under-estimated risk factor that ranks right up there with smoking, obesity and high blood pressure in terms of its impact on health.

"An estimated 16,000 Australians die each year because they aren't sufficiently active. Active travel must be part of the solution to the burden of chronic disease.

"Today's ministerial statement commits the Australian Government to nine important actions.

"We are exceptionally pleased to see commitments to:

  1. Positive provision for proposed transport infrastructure projects, with evaluation taking appropriate account for the needs and benefits of walking, riding and access to public transport
  2. Work with states and territories to review national guidelines for transport system management to incorporate improved methodology for assessing costs and benefits of active travel.
  3. Work with states and territories to ensure infrastructure project funded through the Commonwealth protect active travel so existing connections not severed, reflect consideration of all transport modes and ensure infrastructure is appropriate for the speed and volume of traffic
  4. Partner with states and territories and the Australian National Preventive Health Agency to encourage active travel behaviour changes.
  5. Work with stakeholders to provide resources for active travel planning, including Healthy Spaces and Places, an initiative of the Heart Foundation, Planning Institute of Australia and Australian Local Government Association.
  6. Work with states and territories to consider a new walking, riding and access to public transport (WRAPT) council that reports to the Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure.

"We congratulate the Transport Minister for this very significant policy and look forward to future announcements that will put these commitments into practice.

"We hope that the policy will have bipartisan support and note the interest of shadow transport minister, Warren Truss, in the active travel agenda, as well as the vigorous enthusiasm of Greens senators, Lee Rhiannon and Scott Ludlam," Dr Grenfell said.

Heart Foundation