Labor is pledging $300 million to roll out a plan for preventing chronic disease, tackling obesity, smoking and alcohol misuse.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has unveiled the five-point plan to combat ailments such as diabetes and heart disease – the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia.

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Under the plan, 50 at-risk communities would become Healthy Communities, receiving targeted support.

The federal government would work with local and state governments to encourage physical activity while also helping to make healthy food available at schools and workplaces.

Labor wants to tackle the leading causes of death and disability. AAP

The plan also includes measures to slash smoking rates, responsible for 15,000 Australian deaths each year.

There would be a $20 million national tobacco campaign along with $30 million to target those in indigenous communities, disadvantaged areas or those with mental illness.

The other points are:

* Establishing a national physical activity strategy and nutrition framework, expanding the Health Star Rating system.

* Expanding the Victorian government’s Better Health Channel health information website to make it national.

* Creating a national alcohol strategy to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse and violence, including strategies to limit alcohol advertising to kids.