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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 2280 ..
MR CORBELL
(continuing):The current exemption system means that patrons and employees in a handful of restaurants and a large number of pubs, clubs and bars, are still exposed to the health risks from environmental tobacco smoke. We need to move towards a more complete and equitable health protection system. Unfortunately, because of seven years of inaction, the ACT is now behind many jurisdictions, both in Australia and overseas.
Mr Smyth
: Not 18 months of inaction?MR CORBELL: Let us remember who introduced the smoke-free exemptions regime in the first place, Mr Speaker-those opposite us. They brought in an exemptions regime which does not work, which is unsafe and which still exposes people to dangerous levels-in fact, any level is dangerous-of environmental tobacco smoke. That is the legacy we are now working to address, and the government is very pleased to be doing so.
MS MacDONALD
: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Minister, what has been the initial reaction to the discussion paper?MR CORBELL
: The reaction has been quite positive, from a wide range of people in the community-certainly people who contacted my office. Recent surveys have found that 85 per cent of Canberrans support smoke-free restaurants and 63 per cent support smoke-free pubs and clubs. So there is a strong level of community support for phasing out the exemptions regime. Obviously, health consumer groups and medical groups also support such a ban.The Australian Hotels Association has, of course, claimed that this will have a serious impact on their business. The same claim was made when it was proposed that restaurants go smoke free. It just did not happen. What is most disappointing is the view of the Liberal opposition. The Liberal opposition have indicated that they will be-
Mr Smyth
: Mr Speaker, I wish to raise a point of order. Standing order 118 (b) does not allow him to debate or comment on behalf of the Liberal Party. We are quite capable of doing that ourselves. I would ask you to direct him to answer the question.MR CORBELL
: On the point of order: the supplementary question was: what has been the initial reaction to the discussion paper? I am outlining that, and I am about to outline the reaction of the Liberal opposition.MR SPEAKER
: I think he is entitled to deal with things in context.MR CORBELL
: It is interesting that Mr Smyth has said, in his media statement, that a total ban would be a big step. He went on to say:But we have to keep in mind how such a move would affect the livelihoods of businesses like pubs and clubs.
He goes on to say in his media statement that the government cannot phase out the current exemption system without proving that it is not working. He said:
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