Page 3930 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 23 October 1990
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It is also the case that the Government, with this Bill, will effectively ban a number of non-smoked tobacco products, particularly things such as chewing snuff and sucking tobacco. Those particular products have very limited use in the ACT, I am pleased to say. However, their carcinogenic effect is extremely large and I think it is only appropriate that we take the pre-emptive measure of not permitting those products to be sold in the ACT so that there is no question of their becoming an adverse influence on people's health.
It is also the case that the Government will be banning the sale of cigarettes in small packets. Obviously it is desirable that those packets not be of a size that would attract young people. Of course, most tobacco companies already sell cigarettes in packets of, I think, a minimum of 30, and that certainly makes it easier, although there are some imported brands which do not conform with that particular restriction, and therefore legislation is necessary.
Mr Speaker, I am quite sure that this legislation will achieve a great deal. It is historic legislation. It is the product not of any particular person's or government's initiative but rather of a long process of negotiation and change in the ACT, going back I think to at least 1983, if not before. The legislation therefore is historic. It represents the largest step taken by any Australian government to combat death and disease caused by tobacco consumption. It is legislation which I hope, therefore, will be emulated and copied elsewhere, particularly with respect to measures which deal with the influence of tobacco on children.
I believe these measures are timely. They will be effective and they will provide for a very large degree of community acceptance because I believe, fundamentally, that our community understands the nature of the problem. There are few adult smokers who cheerfully acknowledge that the habit is a good one that they would wish to see others take up, particularly young people. This is a measure which I think can go some way towards breaking that cycle of new smokers which feeds the habit, which feeds death and disease in the community, and which also feeds the profits of those companies that sell those products. Mr Speaker, I understand that there is general support for the Bill and I commend it to the house.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
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