Michael Thorn

Michael Thorn is a public health consultant and former Chief Executive of the Foundation for Alcohol Policy and Research, and Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Michael's recent articles

Junk food ads for the chop? Dont hold your breath

Junk food ads for the chop? Dont hold your breath

Banning harmful advertising such as junk food, gambling, and alcohol advertising should be a political no-brainer. The evidence of the harm they cause is clear, especially among children and young people, the health and social benefits of such restrictions are real and public support is high and undeniable. And yet - tobacco advertising excepted - action by the political class on preventive health policy is unacceptably slow.

Boozing it up in Geneva by Big Alcohol

Boozing it up in Geneva by Big Alcohol

Big Alcohol has once again actively undermined efforts by the World Health Organization to adopt a new alcohol action plan and mobilise governments to do more to stop preventable alcohol harm.

Controlling lobbyists is needed to increase trust in government

Good and bad government behaviour, the management of crises, lack of accountability, preferencing of mates, the favouring of powerful interests, undue influence and lobbying, they all impact on people's trust in government.

Corporate Australias social licence to operate: the case of Dan Murphys in Darwin

Woolworths has copped a right shellacking by Sydney-based lawyer Danny Gilberts Independent Panel Review into the proposed Dan Murphys development in Darwin. As did the Northern Territory Government. The damning Review report excoriates both Woolworths and its booze arm Endeavour Drinks for their conduct in relentlessly pursuing development approval for this big-box booze barn against the wishes of the local Indigenous community.

Is the Darwin Dan Murphys Woolworths a Juukan Gorge moment?

As time has passed, opposition to Woolworths plans for a massive alcohol store near three dry Indigenous communities in Darwin has strengthened and become more vociferous. Even with the assistance of a pliant Northern Territory Government, approval of this shocking plan remains in doubt.

Cricket Australia continues to feast on unhealthy product advertising

The advertising of alcohol, gambling and junk food, especially in sport and during childrens viewing times, has been contentious. With summer upon us, cricket is again swamped with these ads, exposing millions of kids to them and threatening their health and wellbeing. The release of new drinking guidelines calls into question the future of this kind of advertising.

Lobbyland. The alcohol industry lobbies furiously in the pandemic.

Alcohol industry representatives have been furiously lobbying for concessions to the efforts by governments to restrict the movement of people the primary tool in fighting the virus.

MICHAEL THORN,- The cricket trifecta-booze,junk food and betting.

Cricket Australias gift to fans this Christmas was an unhealthy serving of booze, betting and junk food ads.

Alcohol industry calling the shots on Australian health policy

Shocking scandals continue to roll through the media cycle, featuring abuse of power and influence by the addictive industries, and alleging corruption and worse. Who hasnt read or heard about Crown Casinos high roller operation or the ABCs investigation into the National Alcohol Strategy (NAS), which broke on Friday 26 July.

MICHAEL THORN. Dry July Sobriety Stunt is Unethical

There are many dimensions to the controversy around the shocking decision by cancer charity and fundraiser Dry July to partner with Australias biggest alcohol retailer Woolworths, but fundamentally it is unethical.

MICHAEL THORN. Writing on the wall for unhealthy advertising

Regulation in this country around the advertising of unhealthy products alcohol, junk food and gambling is a hodgepodge of black letter law; codes of practice; industry voluntary schemes; and policy-led arrangements variously administered by the Commonwealth, states/territories and local government across the range of broadcast, print, online, outdoor, branded merchandise and sponsorships. What a mess.

MICHAEL THORN. The standard you walk past is the standard you accept - sports' addiction to alcohol, gambling and junk food advertising.

No ad breaks, declares Fox Sports of its coverage of the Boxing Day cricket test in Melbourne. Well none, if you dont count the scoreboard endorsements, perimeter branding and other in-game adverts promoting one brand or another. All of them impossible to miss.

MICHAEL THORN. Cricket Australia: Culpable without consequence

Australias disgraced cricket trio, Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, may have engineered the ball tampering scandal in South Africa this year, but the damning cultural review released yesterday has found an arrogant and controlling Cricket Australia essentially to blame.

MICHAEL THORN. Who's in the room? Access and influence in Australian politics. The revolving door.

Those searching for remedies to the parlous state of Australian politics and public policy-making might dwell on this claim by the Grattan Institute: more than one-quarter of politicians go onto post-politics jobs for special interests, where their relationships can help open doors. Its a jobs highway.

MICHAEL THORN. Corporate power unchecked: Time to redress a dangerous imbalance

Are corporate interests too powerful? Are vested interests beyond democratic control? Are our political institutions even concerned to do so?

MICHAEL THORN. Cricket Australia crisis is an opportunity to remove the booze culture.

Australia loves to cut down its tall poppies. Just a few months ago, Australian cricket captain Steve Smith was being compared with the Don himself, Donald Bradman. In the aftermath of the weekends ball-tampering controversy in Cape Town, the Australian media were after his head, with a fervour normally reserved for murderers and sex offenders. And now we have the verdict. Guilty as charged with 12 month sentences for Smith and David Warner, and a nine month sentence for Bancroft. Unfortunately, any punishment meted out to Smith, Warner and Bancroft, no matter how punitive, would always...

Michael Thorn. Will a sugar tax drive you to drink?

Imposing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages has become the go-to policy for health and medical advocates wanting an effective population-wide intervention to deal with the worlds growing problem of obesity and poor diet.

MICHAEL THORN. Countering vested interests A REPOST

That corporations wield enormous power is not news. That this power is wielded to benefit the corporation and its agents is not news either. Neither is seeking to counter the power of these corporations by public interest organisations, like the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE).

MICHAEL THORN. More about rent seekers and lobbyists.

There is nothing new in stories about jobs for the boys .Both sides of politics are equally guilty. What is surprising is that the practice endures despite the frequent media stories and the publics obvious disgust. Behind the appointment of a new leadership team at Tourism Australia by Tourism Minister Ciobo lies another egregious example of this; 'you rub my back and I will give you a nice sinecure' practice.

MICHAEL THORN. The cricket pay dispute and how broadcast deals drive unhealthy product marketing

After the series of serious drug and alcohol incidents involving rugby league players and officials in May, some quite reasonably made the argument that sports that so closely embrace alcohol brands can hardly be surprised when the behaviour of players clothed in these brands act badly. This was cited in support of the argument that alcohol and sport are not a good mix.

MICHAEL THORN. Cricket Australia throw Aussie kids to the Lion

Alcohol and sport sponsorship is a toxic marriage, an ill-fitting and dangerous partnership. Like sport and tobacco sponsorship before it, it is anachronism; a throwback to a less enlightened era.

Michael Thorn. Caught Out: How Cricket Australia maintains Aussies high drinking average.

The runs are coming thick and fast in the current Victoria Bitter One Day International Series between Australia and India, bested only by the onslaught of alcohol advertising both on and off the pitch as well as in the commercial breaks in between the on field action. That barrage of alcohol ads on the telly are the result of an egregious loophole in Australias legislation that allows for alcohol advertising to be broadcast on television before 8:30pm during sporting broadcasts on weekends and public holidays. So while the Australian cricket team deservedly basks in the glow of its...

Michael Thorn. The Australian cricket captain says its about the brand and not alcohol.

Repost from 24/09/2015 Premier Mike Bairds public comments at last weeks Thomas Kelly Foundation event in Sydney wasnt the first time he has questioned the extent of alcohol advertising in this country, particularly its strong association with big sport. Baird made the self-evident point that such alcohol advertising has become omni-present and spoke about the need to reduce its presence. I find it quite an incredible position where the captain of our cricket team sits there with a big VB on the middle [of his chest], Mr Baird said. It would be a fair bet that...

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