Page 1458 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2007
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In conclusion, the reason we are in this place is to make a difference. This motion serves to remind Canberrans that this government does make a difference to the lives of people who live and work in the ACT. Through the effective legislation and reforms this government have introduced in this area, we have made a difference. We know that the job is not yet finished. We must continue to introduce reforms that will serve to protect the health of many tens of thousands of Canberrans, as well as those not yet born—and this government will.
At the beginning, I spoke of the 50 Australians who will die in the next 24 hours. These Australians are not numbers; they are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, colleagues we work with or socialise with on a daily basis, valued members of our community. I also mentioned the effect that smoking has on our yet unborn children. I think that all of us in this place would agree that it would be remiss of us if we were to neglect our responsibility and not pursue the matter further. We cannot and must not abrogate this responsibility. I call upon the Minister for Health to report to the Assembly on the timetable for further reforms.
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (12.08): I apologise that because of the order of the program today I did not have a chance to talk to Ms Porter about the amendment that I have circulated in my name calling on the ACT government to make public the proposed control measures by 30 June 2007 and calling on the government to report to the Assembly by the last sitting day of September 2007 on the outcomes of the consultation. As Ms Porter has rightly said, it is an issue where we need to work together, so I hope that will be taken into consideration. Again, I offer my apologies for not having talked to her about that sooner.
The burden of disease and injury in Australia 2003 stated cancer, at the rate of 19 per cent, and cardiovascular disease, at 18 per cent, to be the leading causes of death; tobacco smoking remained the main risk factor, responsible for the greatest burden of disease on our health system in Australia. The damning factor is that the increases in the incidence of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular diseases, as well as a range of cancers and other diseases, are also attributable to smoking.
It is apparent that the incidence of smoking is declining and that antismoking campaigns are having an overall impact, but it is hoped that our youth, our young people, will continue to heed the warnings and stop the initial uptake of smoking. I know that Ms Porter made those points as well. It is interesting to note that, overall, 80 per cent of Canberrans choose not to smoke, but, unfortunately, Ms Porter, I think you and I are both on the same track: it is our young people who continue to take up smoking.
Interestingly, around 40 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women nationwide have signified that they have never smoked tobacco. That is a very encouraging statistic. But of real concern, as I have just said, is that almost a third of men and a fifth of women aged over 16 years have smoked tobacco. Such a figure, in the context of the ACT, must signify that governments need to do more to ensure that the uptake of this deadly habit is curtailed—again, particularly amongst our young people, in the main young women—and that the promotion of antismoking campaigns is followed through.
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