Page 2200 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 June 1990
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I would like to thank Margaret Hilton, Sarah Bartlett, Danielle Morrison and Anne Maree Pight for their efforts in collecting these signatures. I have ensured that a copy of that letter has also gone to Mr Humphries.
SCRUTINY OF BILLS AND SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION - STANDING COMMITTEE
Report
MS MAHER: I present report No. 9 of the Standing Committee on the Scrutiny of Bills and Subordinate Legislation. I seek leave to make a brief statement.
Leave granted.
MS MAHER: The report I have just tabled details the committee's comments on the Statutory Authorities (Audit Arrangements) Bill 1990. I commend the report to the Assembly and I also thank Professor Whalan for his work overnight to get the committee's response ready.
TOBACCO (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990
MR HUMPHRIES (Minister for Health, Education and the Arts) (4.02): Mr Deputy Speaker, I present the Tobacco (Amendment) Bill 1990. I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
It gives me great pleasure to table today legislation to further restrict the sale, advertising, distribution and promotion of tobacco products. Last year the Follett Government took the first steps towards introducing stronger anti-smoking legislation for the ACT and established the ACT health promotion fund using an increase in tobacco taxes. The Alliance Government has continued and built on this foundation. This demonstrates that the ill effects caused by the consumption of tobacco products are greater than any political point scoring. It demonstrates the need for a bipartisan approach to restrict the promotion and sale of these lethal products, particularly to children and young people.
Smoking is the largest single cause of preventable death and disease in the Australian community. Nationally it causes an estimated 17,800 deaths per year, more than six times the national road toll. This equates to almost 288 deaths per year in the ACT, or more than five deaths per week. To this death toll must be added the disease and illness caused by tobacco use. Smokers suffer and die from lung cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema and many other conditions. Their families suffer; the community suffers.
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