TOBACCO ACT

Papers and Ministerial Statement

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care): Mr Speaker, I present, pursuant to section 6 of the Subordinate Laws Act 1989, determination No. 29 of 1995, including the explanatory statement, which is an exemption made under the Tobacco Act and gazetted in Gazette No. S79, dated 10 April 1995. I seek leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MRS CARNELL: Mr Speaker, I wish to make a brief statement regarding the exemption under the Tobacco Act 1927 which I have tabled in the Assembly today. The exemption concerns tobacco sponsorship and advertising in relation to the Canberra Raiders matches played at Bruce Stadium in the Winfield Cup competition during 1995.

The exemption is a disallowable instrument. Due to the timing of the receipt of the application, it has not been possible to allow 15 sitting days before the commencement of the event to which the exemption refers. The application was received on 7 April 1995, and the granting of the exemption was notified in the Gazette on 10 April 1995. I understand that the lateness of the application was due to its not having been directed to the appropriate office prior to the recent ACT Government election. I have agreed to provide the exemption in view of the conditions which relate to the continuation of the previously agreed non-smoking signage and the limiting of brand name tobacco advertising during matches.

Mr Speaker, the encouragement of a healthy, smoke-free lifestyle for the young people of this community is of prime importance to everyone in this Assembly, and I think that has been proven. In this regard, the phasing out of tobacco sponsorship of sport under Commonwealth legislation should be seen as a very positive step. I bring this matter to the Assembly's attention in the hope that full cooperation and support will be given to allow Raiders matches to proceed subject to the stated conditions for this year.

MR CONNOLLY: Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a statement.

Leave granted.

MR CONNOLLY: The Opposition's understanding is that this is an exemption in similar or indeed identical terms to the exemptions that have been granted in the past, and on that basis we would support it. I will not be making the sort of political capital that was made by the then Leader of the Opposition when we granted an exemption to a cricket match, when we were accused of all sorts of hypocrisy for granting an exemption.

Mrs Carnell: No, I did not. I did not ever say one word.

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