Australia has again been urged to consider a sugary drinks tax after a new study revealed it would lead to major public health benefits.
A 20 per cent tax would raise an estimated $400 million a year and reduce annual health expenditure by up to $29 million, the study published in PloS ONE estimates.
The British government announced in March it would introduce a sugar levy in two years to help tackle the country's obesity problem, prompting a call for Australia to consider such a tax.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver went further, telling the Australian government to "pull its finger out" and follow suit, and describing the UK move as "bold and brave".
The new University of Queensland modelling related to the effects over the lifetime of adult Australians alive in 2010.
"We found there would be 800 fewer new type 2 diabetes cases each year once the tax was introduced," researcher Dr Lennert Veerman said.
"After 25 years, about 1600 fewer deaths would have occurred, with heart disease accounting for the largest share of this postponed mortality.
"There would be 4400 fewer people with heart disease at that time and 1100 fewer people living with the consequences of stroke."
He noted a sugary drinks tax was not on the political agenda in Australia.
"But this study and international experience suggest it should be considered as part of any tax reform process," he said.
