Page 1578 - Week 05 - Thursday, 2 June 2022
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
objectives to reduce the exposure of the ACT community, including children, to second-hand smoke and to reduce smoking rates, particularly among high-risk population groups, through both population and targeted measures. This is already a priority under the drug strategy action plan and I have no doubt that it will continue to be a priority for the ACT government.
I expect to table the outcomes and progress made against the actions in the first drug strategy action plan in the coming week, which will demonstrate that almost all of the actions were completed or partially completed, even accounting for and despite the impact of COVID-19. The next drug strategy action plan is currently being developed across government and with key stakeholders and partners in the alcohol and other drug treatment sector.
The ACT Health Directorate is working with other directorates to act on disrupting the uptake of vaping in particular, a relatively new challenge in this space, encouraging smokers to reduce or quit risky behaviour such as smoking and vaping and to continue reducing the impact of nicotine products in the ACT. I introduced the Health Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 in April, which includes provisions to improve compliance around e-cigarettes and sales of those to those under 18. Indeed, just the other day I had some correspondence to my office from a parent expressing concern about the ease with which their young person under the age of 18 could get hold of vaping products. This is a significant challenge for the community. Without making any specific policy announcements, I have no doubt that this has been raised by stakeholders and will be part of the response in the next drug strategy action plan.
MR DAVIS: Minister, will the government consider an evaluation of the Smoke-Free Public Places Act as part of the next drug strategy?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I am happy to take on board that suggestion from Mr Davis and from the community around considering the impact of the Smoke-Free Public Places Act and whether that needs to be amended or expanded or changed in some way. Of course, that is around the impact of second-hand smoke on people. A key policy emphasis that we have had over the last little while is ensuring that those people who have higher rates of smoking, or those groups in our community who have higher rates of smoking, are specifically supported through campaigns and services.
While smoking rates in the community have generally fallen over the last period of time—and I think it is important to recognise the success in the ACT where the proportion of daily smokers fell by more than half between 2001 and 2019, from 18.4 per cent to 8.2 per cent—we see an ongoing challenge in those groups in our community who experience various forms of disadvantage and discrimination. That is why a number of the measures that we take, including our Healthy Canberra grants, are particularly focused on that. For example, the Directions “butt it out!” smoking support program is an evidence-based program aiming to address tobacco dependency in a busy alcohol and other drug treatment and primary care service. It is really leading to a sustained practice of tobacco use intervention and supporting clients to successfully quit smoking. The Cancer Council’s “tackling tobacco in the ACT” is an integrated program aiming to reduce health and social inequalities through addressing
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video