Page 3923 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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MR STEFANIAK: It is very brief. It probably saves time. The report I have just tabled details the committee's comments on the Motor Traffic (Amendment) Bill (No. 7) of 1990 and the Consumer Affairs (Amendment) Bill 1990. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Sitting suspended from 4.50 to 8.00 pm
TOBACCO (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990
Debate resumed from 17 October 1990, on motion by Mr Humphries:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR MOORE (8.00): This has taken me a little bit by surprise. I thought there was somebody else to speak first and I appear to have misplaced my notes. Mr Speaker, I think in the first place it is appropriate to congratulate the Government for bringing this Bill down. In dealing with all drugs I think the appropriate attitude is to minimise the use and minimise the harm associated with the use of any drugs, particularly tobacco because it kills over 17,000 a year, from bronchitis, lung cancer, and so on. There is a particular problem with tobacco, which is, of course, the real killer drug in our society. What we see here is an attempt by the Government to minimise its use and its harm. This is something to be applauded.
During the in-principle stage of the debate there are just a few issues I would like to draw attention to. The first one relates to the supply of tobacco products and the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age. Having taught, for some time, young adults of 15, 16 and 18 years, I am very concerned about the effect that this legislation may have on the people who are currently smokers, who are currently addicted to smoking. They will find it very, very difficult to reduce their habit.
In fact, dare I say they will find it impossible to reduce their smoking habit. Yet they will be up for a penalty of up to $1,000 under proposed section 4 of this Act. I must say I have some real concerns about that particular issue and I cannot, at this stage, support it. I did indicate to Mr Humphries that I had some problem and had hoped that we would be able to have some discussion on the particular issue. If we are going to push forward with it, then I think I shall need to move some amendments to that particular section of the Act.
The goal of trying to reduce use of tobacco by under-18-year-olds is certainly an admirable one. But I think that using the heavy hand, as is proposed in this Bill, is not the appropriate way to go, particularly for the people who are now going to be in that transition period over the next two years. A 16-year-old who is already a smoker, and
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