Page 211 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994
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on a gradient. Such a course acknowledges that there is an economic question here. People in the hospitality industry say that it is a question of economics; that many businesses would suffer if they had to do away with smoking immediately or if, as the Liberal Party may suggest, they had to put in ventilation of a certain standard. Some say that this would discriminate against some types of business and not other types and against businesses of a certain size and not others. It is indeed hard to divide a restaurant with half-a-dozen tables into smoking and non-smoking; it is hard to the extent that it would be impossible.
The people for a ban say that we should adopt a legislative approach and that the Government should take a responsible attitude and ban smoking, to make sure that people are looked after. Those with the other view say that they agree with self-regulation, not legislation - unless it is absolutely necessary. They say that in the case of smoking there is no evidence that legislation is necessary, because the hospitality industry is moving towards a no-smoking environment. Indeed, the Australian Hotels Association said:
The industry is committed to a Code of Practice which provides for adequate ventilation and designated smoking and non-smoking areas where possible.
Those people who are for a ban say, "There is no need to wait any longer. We have had enough time. This debate, not only in the ACT but throughout Australia, has been going on hot and heavy for a long time. Let us get on with it. Let us ban smoking straightaway". The other viewpoint is that there certainly has not been enough time, given imposts on businesses and restaurants; that if this ban were suddenly brought in without long advance notice they would be severely hard done by. Even though there is no other ban in Australia, people for the ban say that the ACT can lead the way. Those people opposing the outright ban would say, "Yes, but it is the wrong way".
We have both sides stating that the majority of people support their view. I will now look at those surveys. A national household survey done in 1993 was sent along to me by the ACT Alcohol and Drug Service. There are a couple of problems with the survey technique. There are a number of sets of questions listed. In respect of all but one set the person doing the survey is advised to "read out and rotate" the questions so as not to get any bias.
Mr De Domenico: Like a Robson rotation.
MR STEVENSON: Yes. There is one set of questions for which that is not recommended, and that is the one to do with banning smoking. It reads:
Looking at Card 5, to what extent would you support or oppose the following?
The five choices are "strongly support", "support", "neither", "oppose" and "strongly oppose". The first question is:
Stricter enforcement of the law against supplying cigarettes to customers who are under age.
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