Page 2201 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 June 1990
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Estimates show that the cost of smoking to the community in Australia in 1984 was over $2.5 billion per annum, including health care costs and absenteeism from work. While cigarette smoking is on the decline, the decline is slow and in some sectors of the community, notably amongst young women, smoking is increasing. This is the situation which no responsible government can overlook.
As I mentioned last Thursday, on World No Tobacco Day, the Alliance Government has already demonstrated its commitment to addressing the problems associated with adult smoking through its decision to expand the ACT Quits Smoking Cessation Service from a part-time to a full-time service.
The Government is also strongly committed to addressing tobacco related issues for young people, as demonstrated by the sponsorship of the 1990 Rock Eisteddfod in the ACT through the health promotion fund in conjunction with the quit for life campaign and the funding of the ACT Cancer Society to establish a quit smoking program for adolescents in secondary colleges throughout Canberra.
The Government's commitment also extends to further legislative control of tobacco and its use. The Tobacco (Amendment) Bill 1990 and the Public Health (Eating Houses) Regulations (Amendment) being tabled today will introduce further restrictions on the sale, packaging, advertising and promotion of tobacco products and ensure that no-smoking zones are available for non-smoking clients of restaurants.
There has been considerable community support for similar legislation to that restricting the sale and promotion of tobacco in other States, and the Government believes that this legislation will have the overwhelming support of the Canberra community and will significantly advance the health status of the ACT population.
I shall now outline the elements of the legislative package. Firstly, Mr Deputy Speaker, the Bill proposes further regulating the supply of tobacco to children by increasing the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 18 and by significantly increasing the penalties for supplying tobacco products to children.
Legislation to control the sale of tobacco products to minors is virtually non-existent in the ACT and what does exist dates back to the 1920s. The current fine of $10 for supplying cigarettes to children has no real deterrent effect at all and the legislation is so worded as to make it difficult to prosecute offenders. The Bill increases the fine to a contemporary and meaningful level - $1,000 - and will also make it illegal for an adult to purchase cigarettes for use by children. The increase in the minimum age will bring tobacco legislation into line with alcohol legislation and make it much more difficult for 12- to 15-year-olds to obtain cigarettes. This is the age group where many young people are starting to smoke.
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