Page 1500 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
There is no doubt that the ACT has led the way in many of the tobacco control measures that are now pretty much commonplace in Australia. I think it was the Follett Labor government in 1994 that moved to enact legislation to prohibit smoking in enclosed public places, despite quite serious attempts to derail that idea at the time.
When reflecting on tobacco control, considering that it has been some 40 to 50 years since the link between tobacco and illness and, ultimately, death was first recognised, I think it is regrettable that, here we are in 2007, looking at further tobacco control measures. I think there is an acceptance that it was in the early sixties that the scientific community determined that smoking was related to the increase in lung cancer and probably to heart disease.
We know that it is now one of the leading causes of disease burden on our community. This is confirmed in the latest report of the AIHW on the burden of disease and injury in Australia. It says that cancer is ranked as the leading disease burden and that, not surprisingly, tobacco is responsible for the greatest burden amongst those health risks. There is no doubt that those original thoughts back in the sixties have been confirmed in subsequent years by scientific evidence.
Forty to 50 years down the track, we are still talking about whether or not we should ban smoking in outdoor areas, whether we should ban smoking in underage functions, whether we should look at further advertising restrictions and whether we should look at further restrictions on point of sale information. It shows, I think, the lengths to which the tobacco industry will go and how quick it is to move to adapt to new and emerging markets. Certainly, with the emergence of fruit-flavoured cigarettes and split packs that come in the size of an iPod, they have shown how quick they are to move and to look at new areas to entice people to take up smoking. It is important that we continue this reform process that started back in 1994.
It is interesting, too, to look at the way industry groups have moved over the years. Industry groups, certainly in years past, have been quite proactive in refusing to accept the role of tobacco in relation to harm to the public, to workplaces and to the environment. Environmental tobacco smoke has been the main cause of harm in public places. This morning I had a meeting with the AHA—coincidentally, not organised—to discuss some of the future reforms that the government is considering, and I have had meetings with the clubs in recent weeks as well. The very pragmatic response that industry takes now is not about whether reforms will come in; it is about when. When the government has decided which way to go, we will be able to discuss with them how to proceed, and when. But there is certainly an understanding there now that it really is inevitable.
This year the Northern Territory won the dirty ashtray award, with the ACT coming seventh out of eight. The award is run by the AMA and is measured on implemented reform, not just things you have got in the pipeline. Whilst they score us for all the issues we are looking at in terms of tobacco control, they are not recognised because they are only in the pipeline. They will be recognised once they are legislated and that will ensure that we do not get the dirty ashtray award. It also shows how quickly the other jurisdictions are moving to implement reform and how quickly they are moving in recognition of some of the facts.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .