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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 5 Hansard (11 May) . . Page.. 1431 ..
MR MOORE (continuing):
In summary, this bill provides amendments to enhance the proven principle of risk assessment in managing activities that impact upon public health. The bill develops further the principle of risk assessment while allowing businesses to function with minimal government intervention. This is a major step forward in health legislation and the ACT is again able to set the benchmark in public health legislation, providing other jurisdictions with a model to strive towards. I am delighted to present the Public Health Amendment Bill 2000, which is important public health legislation deserving of your support.
Debate (on motion by Mr Stanhope ) adjourned.
MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (11.15): I present the Smoking Products Legislation Amendment Bill 2000, together with its explanatory memorandum.
Title read by Clerk.
MR MOORE: I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
Mr Speaker, I am delighted to present the Smoking Products Legislation Amendment Bill 2000. When it comes to providing public health protection, we are fortunate to be in a unique position: we are a small jurisdiction in terms of geographical size; we have one level of government; and we have had a succession of territory governments committed to discouraging smoking and minimising the harms to the individual and to the community from the use of tobacco products.
As part of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy to reduce demand and control supply, we have enacted world-class legislation. This legislation addresses a number of key issues: minimising passive smoking in public places and workplaces and placing appropriate controls on tobacco sales, advertising and promotion. One of the biggest dangers of success, of course, is complacency. We have a responsibility to prevent that from happening. Our success to date and our national leadership role mean that we can both create and use opportunities. Today we have such an opportunity: the Smoking Products Legislation Amendment Bill 2000.
This bill recognises that certain non-tobacco smoking products are not subject to legislated controls on their sale, advertising or promotion or where they may be smoked. This is not because these products are harmless. On the contrary, the smoking of these products produces a number of detrimental health effects. In fact, the smoking of herbal cigarettes releases tar, carbon monoxide and cancer-causing agents.
The products themselves have been found to contain a number of psychoactive ingredients, and some of the products are being blatantly promoted as a legal substitute for cannabis. Concerns have been raised about the potential for herbal cigarettes to be
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