Page 3925 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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habit even though there was no-one in the family who smoked. It was something that was part of the ethos, if you like, of the society and the groups that she mixed in.
She has often said to me in recent years, now that she has left her teens, that she is sorry that she ever took up the habit. She said to me one night, "Dad, I cannot give it up. I cannot get rid of it. I cannot stop it". It occurred to me, Mr Speaker, that this is a very important factor and a reason why we should consider taking over controls on this. It is quite clear that smoking is the single major preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.
While there appears to be evidence to suggest that smoking amongst young men is lessening, it seems clear that smoking by young women is going the other way. It is even more important, I think, for young women, particularly as they often become involved in pregnancy. Smoking clearly has an effect on the unborn child. Those of them who are involved in the use of contraceptive tablets and other pills find that also has an effect when combined with smoking.
Any of us who have been unfortunate enough to go through hospital wards where people have been afflicted by the dreaded emphysema or thrombosis caused by cigarette smoking, which results in bad circulation and often the loss of limbs, can feel some concern about the insidious nature of this particular material. I recall as a young lad seeing my maternal grandfather literally shrivelling up and dying before our eyes. He had been consumed over the years by the abuse of this noxious substance.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Government has a clear responsibility to take every opportunity in its path to seek to reduce the number of people who are going to be exposed to tobacco products. There clearly has been some gain in certain areas in relation to attempts to identify the problems associated with cigarette smoking, but we cannot rest on our laurels. Mr Berry has indicated that a large number of young people take up the habit every day.
The Bill before the Assembly and that we are debating tonight, Mr Speaker, represents a very effective and active response to this serious problem in the ACT. The legislation is similar to that in force in Victoria and South Australia, and that proposed in Western Australia and Tasmania. Since the Government announced its intention to introduce this legislation there has been substantial support expressed for it by the ACT community. But, of course, there also have been attempts by others and groups within the community to influence members of the Assembly to change their position and vote differently on this legislation. I commend the Minister, Mr Humphries, for persevering with his commitment to reducing the effects of the tobacco industry on our young people.
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