Release Date: Tuesday April 8, 2003

CALL FOR COMPLETE SMOKE BANS BY END OF YEAR

A timetable for the implementation of a total smoking ban in all enclosed public places will be set down at the opening of a national conference on smoking in Melbourne tomorrow.
Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health, will be calling for complete smoking bans in all enclosed public places by the end of 2003 in a keynote address at the opening of the 2nd Australian Tobacco Control Conference.

Ms Jones said it’s time for governments around Australia to commit to an action plan to introduce smokefree workplaces.

“ The workers of Australia need an end point, with no excuses and no exemptions.”

“ It’s time for governments to recognise the community’s strong public support for smokefree venues and move decisively to protect the health of all Australian workers.”

“ We’ve seen time and time again that creating smoking and no-smoking sections is not the answer. While we may recognise the boundaries, smoke certainly can’t, and this simply isn’t an effective solution.”

Ms Jones says while all state and territory governments currently have some form of smokefree legislation in place, the main challenge facing governments now is to ban smoking in bars and clubs.

“ It is simply inconsistent to adopt smoking bans for public health reasons in some venues and not in others.”

“This suggests that some workers and some members of the public have the right to be protected from the harms of passive smoking, while other don’t, and this is clearly unacceptable.”

Ms Jones says the main barrier to introducing totally smokefree enclosed public places is behind-the-scenes lobbying activities of tobacco interest groups.

“ We know that tobacco interest groups are working hard to resist the introduction of smoking bans, but they’re fighting a losing battle.”

“It’s just not acceptable that these groups’ lobbying and fear campaign continue to delay the introduction of safe workplaces for all Australian workers.”

Around 350 delegates from Australia and overseas are attending the 2nd Australian Tobacco Control Conference in Melbourne. The conference opens on Wednesday and continues until Friday.

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For more information please contact Zoe Furman on 0408 176 934 or email zoe.furman@cancervic.org.au