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AUSactive has today welcomed the Coalition's proposal for new Small Business Tax Deductions, calling for the pledge to be extended to Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions for gyms.

Commending the Coalition’s proposal to relax FBT laws with a $20,000 tax deduction for small business meal and entertainment expenses, AUSactive is urging it to extend to gyms to save Australia’s health crises.

AUSactive Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish explained “exempting gym memberships from FBT would not only align with preventive health strategies but also support small businesses and improve workplace productivity.

“Every $1 invested in preventive health delivers a $14 return. It’s absurd that taxpayers can claim deductions for donations to health organisations but not for proactively improving their own health through gym memberships.

“If not implemented, this is a missed opportunity to boost public health and support small fitness businesses.”

AUSactive is also proposing an ‘Active Body, Healthy Mind’ preventative health campaign to combat inactivity and reduce chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes to address Australia’s $14.1 billion inactivity crisis.

Its proposed national preventive health campaign - a physical activity version of ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ focuses on:

• Engaging 500,000 inactive Australians in regular physical activity.
• Boosting preventive health funding from 2% to 5% of the $124 billion health budget.
• Reducing anxiety, depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Elvish (pictured below) adds “a preventative health campaign is logical and necessary.

“Imagine the savings to taxpayers generated by this investment. The total annual health budget is about $124 billion, but only $2 billion is directed towards preventive health, with the majority of that going to sport.

“It’s time to stop being a nation of spectators and one of participants, and our government - whichever one wins the election - needs to ‘walk the walk’.

AUSactive’s call for change echoes calls from leading preventive health advocate, physician and scientist at Sydney University, Professor Luigi Fontana, who estimates that focusing on prevention over treatment could save Australia $30 billion annually.

Elvish went on to say “a robust preventative health strategy running for five or so years would give the bean counters time to see budget savings flowing through, save lives, improve mental health, and slash billions in healthcare costs.”

Research by Brendan Stubbs, highlighted in the ASICS Global State of Mind study, shows that exercise can significantly boost mental well-being, increasing productivity by 22.5%.

AUSactive’s proven ‘Million Moves’ initiative in 2024 demonstrates how small, sustained efforts can drive big health outcomes. Piloted in 2024, the program engaged over 2 million ‘moves’ completed by Aussies aged 18-65+ who joined local fitness businesses and personal trainers in the mission to get the community moving.

AUSactive’s call to action also aligns with bipartisan initiatives like its Fit for Office, which proved fitness transforms lives - even among policymakers when over 37 MPs and 150 of their staff competed in the three-week exercise initiative.

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