Page 310 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 May 1989
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cancer of the cervix. Women who smoke are more likely to have fertility problems and, should they succeed in achieving pregnancy, they have an increased risk of miscarriage, twice the risk of having a stillborn child, and twice the risk of having low birth weight babies. Further, women who smoke and also use oral contraceptive pills run 10 times the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Mr Speaker, the effects on the female contribution to the economy of this disturbing trend towards increased smoking amongst women can only increase the burden of health care expenditure and lost production in the workplace, a concern for all of us. Already the annual cost to the Australian economy is estimated to be in excess of $2.5 billion.
I have already publicly stated this Government's commitment to review legislation - and this might answer the Leader of the Opposition's question on that issue - and to establish policy on tobacco advertising, promotion, sales and pricing in the ACT. These reviews will take particular note of recent developments in Victoria and South Australia.
It is now time to draw attention to the continuing and increasing need to reduce the demand for cigarettes and other tobacco products - in particular, here in Canberra, for promoting anti-smoking campaigns and healthy lifestyle messages.
At this moment a number of community and government agencies are demonstrating, as part of World No Tobacco Day, a variety of ways these messages can be conveyed - through the electronic and print media, street theatre, community development activities and public demonstration.
I am pleased to be able to add another dimension in the political arena. I am also pleased to report that earlier today I launched the Quit for Life anti-smoking campaign in Canberra at the ACT Community and Health Service building in Civic. At this launch I announced sponsorship of the Canberra Cannons basketball team to take the anti-smoking message to our schools. Students at those schools will benefit by the sponsorship through the Cannons' extensive school visits program.
We are all aware of the Canberra Cannons' efforts to retain their national basketball league championship status, but most of us would be unaware of their extensive school visits program involving basketball workshops and camps for school children and aspiring basketball players. This program is an ideal promotional vehicle to deliver the anti-smoking message to a large number of Canberra's young people. This sponsorship program, a first for Canberra I believe, includes the personal involvement of Cannons' team members in delivering the Quit for Life message and material directly into Canberra schools in a way which will impact positively on Canberra's young people.
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