Page 3830 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 27 August 2008
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There are varying degrees of what the minister is telling us about what has or has not happened. It will not really matter because they have got the numbers and it will go through.
Ms Gallagher: But you are supporting it, Jacqui.
MRS BURKE: We do support a majority of what is being said. But I am not going to just stand here and say, “Oh, yes, everything is fine,” because it is not. The process was shambolic and you must be very embarrassed, minister.
I think the thing that we need to look at is the minister’s media release that she has put out today at whatever time it was, quarter past five. I have sort of worked through it. Industry and I are agreed on this. It states:
Industry was concerned to see that they would have adequate time to adjust to the new arrangement so the government has agreed to amendments that will see the postponement of the introduction of the point of sale display bans until 31 December 2009 for general tobacco retailers, and until 31 December 2010 for specialist tobacconists.
There are good things in here but the point-of-sale displays will be something we will revisit. We will try to do it properly. If we come up with the same conclusion, fine. But I think this has been rushed through; it really has. This particular element has. The release states that the bill will:
• remove the ministerial exemption for tobacco advertising and sponsorship;
That is fine. It continues:
• amend the definition of vending machines;
• ban rewards for smoking product purchases;
• ban flavoured cigarettes and split packets.
None of that is a problem. I want to finish on this point in the release:
Further measures currently being looked at include:
• Prohibition of smoking in outdoor eating areas;
• Prohibition of smoking in front of building entrances;
• Prohibition of smoking at underage functions;
• Prohibition of smoking in playgrounds; and
• Prohibition of smoking in cars with children.
I would like to raise something as well here. I would like to add to that list very much. I have already raised it with the CFMEU. I refer to smoking at building sites. As most people will know, when a new building is erected, it is fine for people if they need to smoke. As I have said, I have got no problem if people choose to do that; that is their choice. But once the windows are installed in a building then my understanding is that smoking has to therefore stop within that building. I have had people ring me—apprentices, other people that work in confined areas in buildings that they are
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