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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 08 Hansard (Wednesday, 4 August 2004) . . Page.. 3444 ..

inevitable for as long as possible is hazardous, why is it that we are putting our children at continued risk from the adverse effects of smoking to satisfy premises that may be a bit upset about this?

Adults can go into any of the 200 licensed premises in the ACT and make an adult decision about whether they wish to be around passive smoking or partake in smoking. But to have a phase-in period where our children are concerned is deplorable. Frankly, I know that the legislation is not going to get through without these amendments and I understand that that is going to be very frustrating for Ms Dundas. However, I urge members to consider that we do not need amendments to this legislation in view of the fact that Ms Dundas’s bill already has a phase-in period until September next year.

Why do we need to stretch out the phase-in period when this affects our children? When you say that it is hazardous to delay the inevitable, why then are you supporting amendments to delay the enforcement of this legislation? We did that with the smoking legislation that was passed last year. We were not able to get the support that was needed to ensure that measures beneficial to people’s health in the ACT were applied as soon as was practicable.

Why are we are putting our children at continued risk simply to satisfy licensed premises? We should be putting our children first. The government has come in here and said that it would support a recommendation to have a children’s commissioner because it is concerned about the welfare of children. Yet, when we are looking at the hazardous, adverse effects of the access by children to cigarette vending machines, we are not putting our money where our mouth is. We should not be supporting these amendments and the government should not be supporting these amendments. If the government genuinely has the interests and the welfare of children at heart, it should not be supporting these amendments.

I would ask the government to rethink. Removing vending machines next year will not break the budget. This will not put the clubs and the pubs out of business.

MR SPEAKER: Mrs Cross, the amendments have not been put yet. I am sure you will want to have another—

MRS CROSS: Mr Speaker, I am speaking both to the bill and to the proposed amendments.

MR SPEAKER: The amendments have not been put. They are not on the table and the question that they be agreed to is not before the house. I am sure you will want to have something to say about them later.

MRS CROSS: I probably will, Mr Speaker. I urge members to support Ms Dundas’s bill as it is and to consider any potential amendments that will be tabled in the near future.

MS TUCKER (4.16): This bill will ensure that cigarette machines cannot be used in a public place. I think we all know that cigarette machines provide easy access to cigarettes for many young people, either directly themselves or through the agency of older friends. I understand also that cigarette vending machines provide strict stock control, which is a great advantage for bars and clubs—where they are often located—

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