Page 4300 - Week 13 - Thursday, 14 December 2006
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Cigarettes and tobacco—smoking bans
(Question No 1439)
Mr Stefaniak asked the Minister for Health, on 12 December 2006:
(1) Is the Government considering extending the current bans on smoking in public places; if so, which additional areas are under consideration;
(2) Over what timeframe would any changes be made;
(3) What consultation will occur with businesses and other affected groups;
(4) What public health research is there that supports these claims.
Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) On World No Tobacco Day (31 May 2006) I announced that the Government was investigating developments for the prohibition of smoking in outdoor public areas such as children’s playgrounds, outdoor dining areas and around building entrances.
(2) A regulatory impact assessment is being conducted to identify the best approach in controlling smoking in outdoor public places. These smoke-free control initiatives will be then further developed, including legislative changes where considered appropriate. At this stage, there is no timeframe set for any such initiatives.
(3) As a part of the regulatory impact assessment process, ACT Health has conducted extensive consultation with ClubsACT, the Australian Hotel Association (ACT), health and community organisations and other interested groups in developing the initiatives.
(4) There is strong evidence of health and amenity benefits in imposing smoking bans in public places. The US Surgeon General reported in 2006 that there was no safe level of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and that exposure to ETS causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke (The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General).
Housing—integration projects
(Question No 1444)
Mrs Burke asked the Minister for Housing, on 12 December 2006:
Given that the 2005-06 annual report of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services in Volume 1, page 51 made reference to an improvement in service delivery due to integration projects in the areas of support for Housing Managers, client application support project and case conference, what were the integration projects and how successful has the client application support project been in delivering an improvement in service to Housing ACT clients.
Mr Hargreaves: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
These integration projects had the objective of providing better trained Housing staff that can deliver improved services to their clients.
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