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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 3 Hansard (25 March) . . Page.. 829 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

machines to designated bar areas within licensed premises; prohibit any promotional items or entitlements being given away with tobacco products; prohibit the sale of any object which is related to the sale or consumption of tobacco products, such as lighters and cigarette cases; prohibit competitions associated with tobacco products or with the promotion of smoking; increase penalties for contravention of the Act; and provide for the appointment of authorised officers with specified powers in relation to offences under the Act. If the amendments are agreed to, Mr Speaker, the Government intends to phase in the legislation over six months to ensure that retailers have sufficient time to meet the new point of sale display requirements in the Act.

Further, this legislation will lead the country in its prohibition on toys and foods which resemble tobacco products. Through the prohibition of these items, children will no longer be exposed to items that can be used for simulated smoking, or be introduced to a smoking culture before they can legally purchase tobacco products. In fact, Mr Speaker, just the other night at an interesting seminar I heard a speaker say, in terms of helping people to give up smoking, that one of the first things that his group does is to try to teach people not to move an arm or hand from down next to the pocket up to the mouth because a smoker has probably done so about a million times over the previous six or seven years. One of the first things they do with smokers is to ask them to put a cigarette in between the smallest finger of their left hand, if they are right-handed, and the next finger and smoke like that. Of course, it is very hard to smoke with a finger right up your nose, but it is part of breaking the habit, and that sort of simulated thing makes a difference. I say that as an aside. The other States and Territories will be encouraged to use these provisions as a model for their own legislation through the State and Territory Ministers forum - the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy.

Another important element contained in these amendments is the responsible sale of tobacco products being linked to a tobacco licence, providing for automatic cancellation of a tobacco retail licence for a period of five years as a result of two convictions for Tobacco Act offences within a two-year period. While the Tobacco Licensing Act 1984 is currently administered by the Chief Minister's Department, it is envisaged that the administration of this legislation will be transferred to the Department of Health and Community Care prior to the commencement of these proposed amendments. These provisions are designed to protect the public, especially children, from an addictive and harmful product.

The introduction of the Tobacco (Amendment) Bill 1999 will further cement the ACT as Australia's leading proponent of public health protection against tobacco-related illness and disease. The changes to the Act follow the national trend of limiting the excessive amount of retail advertising currently being used to entice young people to take up regular smoking. The ACT will set an example for other jurisdictions to follow.

Mr Speaker, the approach I have outlined here is consistent with our overall approach to drugs, both in the ACT and nationally. Did you know that, Mr Osborne? It is consistent with our overall approach to drugs.

Mr Osborne: No, I missed that.

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