Page 1459 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2007
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I commend the government on this. It is a difficult issue and one I know the health minister is working really hard on. It is difficult because people feel that their rights are being removed in some way, but we have to consider the rights of people to a smoke-free environment also. It is a very careful balancing act—but not when it comes to the overall cost of the health budget, as I am sure the minister would agree. As a community we must work together to ensure that the incidence of smoking becomes almost non-existent. The government had the Liberal opposition’s support when the first round of legislation was implemented to shift towards non-smoking in enclosed areas, with the final ban coming into effect in December last year.
The ACT government’s approach to tobacco control has been comprehensive, overall, and it has introduced a number of measures intended to reduce demand, control supply and protect non-smokers. No one would dispute that government has a responsibility to work on the reduction of the uptake of smoking. This, in my opinion, is the most important task, and it is one that has the support of organisations such as the Australian Medical Association.
On 1 September 2006, the sale of tobacco from vending machines was prohibited. In October 2006, the Tobacco (Compliance Testing) Amendment Act 2006 was passed, enabling the territory to implement safeguards to prevent tobacco sales to minors. In turn, a significant measure in reducing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, ETS, was the passing of the Smoking (Prohibition in Enclosed Public Places) Act 2003.
By all accounts, I would say that the legislative reforms already passed will be proven to have had a major impact, allowing those who work in the hospitality industry and patrons the right to work in or enjoy clubs, cafes and pubs that maintain a safe, smoke-free environment. It is hoped that this ban will have had a significant flow-on effect in reducing the number of young people taking up the habit. We can all agree that smoking is no longer a social norm. It is not like it used to be. People are distancing themselves and coming to the realisation that you can save a heck of a lot of money by not smoking and also that there is a health impact. In either case, if we can encourage people to give up smoking, then it is all to the good; we will all benefit.
The enforcement of indoor smoking bans has forced Canberrans to head outside to smoke. That is an issue that often bugs me; I do not know about other members. Minister Gallagher is talking about smoking around playgrounds. That is a difficult one. How do you police it? But I encourage the government to keep on with this. Wherever we can, we will support the notion that smoking around children is not a good thing. Being outdoors, it is going to be a difficult one, but let us hope that we can work through it sensitively and sensibly.
Another thing that I have brought to attention publicly concerns places like bus interchanges: you are undercover and smoke is often pushed down. In interchanges there are a lot of people who do not drive for one reason or another—young people, people with a disability. It is not a healthy environment there either.
I have to say that I stand here as an ex-smoker, so I do understand both sides of the fence. It is a challenge for people who are forced outside, but it is also a challenge
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