AMAQ president Shaun Rudd has apologised for his remark about “tuckshop ladies”.
The head of the AMAQ has apologised for insulting tuckshop ladies while advocating for tougher action on Queensland’s obesity crisis.
The peak medical body launched its election wishlist on Thursday, demanding the next state government do more to shrink waistlines and reduce the future burden of diabetes and other weight-related conditions on the health system.
But during the announcement, president Shaun Rudd took aim at the people who staff school canteens.
“We’ve all seen tuckshop ladies, and there’s a reason they’ve got tuckshop arms,” he said.
On Friday Dr Rudd said he didn’t mean to cause offence with his off the cuff remark, which he described as an “inappropriate colloquialism”.
“Of course, tuckshop volunteers do a terrific job supporting their schools,” he said.
“However, this should not distract from the dire situation most Queenslanders are in. We are too fat and our children will be the first generation not to live as long as the previous one.”
Dr Rudd said with eight out of ten Queenslanders set to be overweight or obese within five years, we had to get tough on ourselves and each other.
“Obesity is a difficult subject but sensitivity and political correctness should not get in the way of making the changes we need to prevent a terrible tragedy for this generation and those to come,” he said.
“I’ve offered to meet the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops so that we can work together on tackling this deadly epidemic and not allow the obesity issue to be over-looked during the election campaign.”