The Municipal Public Health Plan (MPHP) program provides an important framework for encouraging and supporting public health planning in local government. While local government in Victoria has a long history of involvement in traditional public health and environmental health issues, interest in broader health advancement issues, including social and behavioural aspects, has been patchy. The advent of MPHPs has stimulated many councils to address health issues such as injury prevention, alcohol and drug misuse, youth health, nutrition and cancer prevention in a more strategic way.

At the same time, statewide strategies such as the Injury Prevention Strategy and the Cancer and Heart Offensive have made efforts to build upon local government's special and changing role in planning and service provision. The "Healthy Localities" Program, conducted by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (Vic Health) with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), has provided a number of evaluated case studies of health promotion programs within individual municipalities.

There are a number of reasons why it is now opportune to pursue public health planning in local government. Newly amalgamated local councils are now working on interim and, in some cases, new MPHPs. A letter from the Director of Public Health of the Department of Human Services (DHS) in August 1995 reminded council commissioners and chief executive officers of the requirement to prepare MPHPs and highlighted health advancement issues as core components of plans. Regional staff in DHS Regional Offices are supporting councils in this task and a series of bulletins/guidelines on specific topics is being published by the DHS Public Health Branch.

A number of recent national reviews of health promotion have pointed to Victoria's MPHP program as a model which other states should adopt in the interests of intersectoral health advancement. At the same time, there is growing interest within Victoria in the program. A number of statewide health advancement agencies have expressed interest in reviewing the way in which they work with local government, while primary care services such as community health centres are also establishing new relationships with local councils.

Municipal Public Health Plans could also form an integral part of other recent initiatives of the State Government. For example a strategic management process is being developed to implement the Victorian Food and Health Policy launched by the Premier in 1995. In addition there is a commitment to develop a 'whole-of-government' approach to other key public health issues. The contribution of local government will be absolutely vital for these measures to achieve their full potential.