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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 07 Hansard (Wednesday, 30 June 2004) . . Page.. 3081 ..

According to researchers from Bispeberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, pre-operative smoking counselling can help prevent such complications from occurring. The 2002 study found that smokers who underwent smoking counselling prior to their surgery, in order to reduce their habit, were less likely to develop the post-operative complications typically found amongst smokers receiving no counselling. According to one of the researchers, smokers should refrain from smoking at least six weeks before surgery.

Whilst I fully support the intention of Ms Dundas’s motion—which I will be supporting—I would like to note that it would be more beneficial for patients to receive pre-operative counselling prior to their admission to hospital. I therefore would encourage all patients undergoing elective surgery to undertake pre-operative counselling.

Subsequently, I shall move an amendment, which will shortly be circulated in my name, in part amending Ms Dundas’s motion, adding that the Assembly “notes that pre-operative counselling six weeks beforehand substantially reduces the risk of post-operative complications”, and replacing “admitted to” with “utilising” because it would be contradictory for me to move an amendment when I am suggesting that counselling should occur at least six weeks out to have any physical benefit to patients.

I would like to commend Ms Dundas for this motion. I have been an advocate not only of banning smoking but also of educating people about the adverse effects of smoking and passive smoking. I think that Ms Dundas is a very responsible member for bringing this motion before the Assembly. I commend the amendment that I will be moving in the detail stage. Once again, I commend Ms Dundas for her motion.

MR SPEAKER: Mrs Cross, why don’t you move the amendment now?

MRS CROSS: Because we had to have it reworded, Mr Speaker. The Clerk is finalising it, and it is not ready yet.

MR SPEAKER: You can seek leave to move it, if you like, just to get the debate started.

MRS CROSS: I seek leave to move the amendment, which is being physically prepared at the moment and which the members will have in about three minutes.

MR SPEAKER: It has not been circulated but, if people understand enough about it to discuss it, we will.

Leave granted.

MRS CROSS (5.35): We have had to rephrase the amendment a little bit for accuracy and consistency. For the reasons that I stated in my speech, Mr Speaker, I move the following amendment to Ms Dundas’s motion to be circulated in my name.

Omit all words after “smoking” (first occurring), substitute:

“(c) notes that pre-operative counselling six weeks beforehand substantially reduces the risk of post-operative complications and calls on the ACT Government to start offering free quit smoking counselling to all smokers utilising ACT public hospitals by no later than January 2005.”

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