Page 2202 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 6 June 1990
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As a further deterrent to young people, the Bill also proposes restricting the location of cigarette vending machines to licensed premises. There are currently no legal restrictions on the availability of or access to cigarette vending machines in the ACT. The actions I have outlined to restrict the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to children cannot be effective unless there are stricter controls over the siting and usage of vending machines. Restricting them to licensed premises will enable proper control over access to tobacco products and considerably reduce their use by children under the age of 18.
The Government is particularly concerned about the prevalence of cigarette smoking by adolescents and children and is taking action to reduce the pressures on children, direct and indirect, to take up smoking. I have been surprised to see that confectionery cigarettes are still on sale in Canberra. Such sweets serve as a model for children that cigarette smoking is a "normal" activity and have the potential to influence their later decisions in life as to whether to take up smoking or not.
Just as worrying are some of the toys available in Canberra at the moment which not only would serve to normalise smoking in the minds of children but which in some cases bear messages that simply cannot be countenanced on a child's toy - for example, a water pistol in the shape of a packet of cigarettes which has printed on its side the message, "In case this trick hurts your victims, please offer them a real cigarette [to] soothe their nerves". I am sure that members of this Assembly would agree that this is totally unacceptable. The Bill proposes a ban on sweets or toys which resemble cigarettes or other tobacco products, or which advertise them.
The Bill also proposes a ban on smokeless tobacco products, such as sucking tobacco, chewing tobacco and oral snuff, which have been shown to be serious health hazards, leading to cancer of the mouth, gum and mouth disease and nicotine addiction. While the Commonwealth has banned the import or manufacture of some smokeless tobacco products, others are still able to be sold. Several States have now banned the manufacture or sale of smokeless tobacco products and this Government is determined to take similar action.
The Government believes that advertising tobacco products is a factor in recruiting and maintaining smokers. Young people are particularly susceptible to tobacco advertising, particularly if it associates smoking with social, sporting or sexual success. In recent years much cigarette advertising has been directed at young women, with - unfortunately - considerable success. The Government is particularly concerned about the impact of cigarette advertising and promotion on young people and will take action to protect children in Canberra from exposure to the advertising and the promotion of these products that can only cause them harm.
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