Tobacco Timeline-Tracking legislation, policy and prevalence

• 1971

• • ACOSH forms in Western Australia (WA)

  • The US Surgeon General releases a further major report on the health consequences of smoking

  • 39% of Australian adults smoke

• 1972

  • The health warning, 'Smoking is a Health Hazard' is compulsory on cigarette packets in Australia

• 1974

  • Metropolitan trains, buses and ferries in Perth become smoke-free

• 1975

  • Federal law bans cigarette advertising on television and radio

  • WA law requires persons involved in the sale of tobacco products to be licensed

• 1981

  • A seminal paper by Japanese epidemiologist Takeshi Hirayama clearly demonstrates the dangers of second hand smoke; a flood of further evidence follows

• 1982

  • Metropolitan (Perth) Passenger Transport Trust Act 1957-1980 prohibits smoking in any vehicle on Transperth premises.

  • The Smoking and Tobacco Products Advertisement Bill proposing to ban advertising is introduced into WA Parliament by Dr Tom Dadour. The Bill passes through the Legislative Assembly but is defeated by a margin of two votes in the Legislative Council

• 1983

  • In WA an increase in cigarette tax is imposed

  • $2 million is allocated for community smoking education in WA

  • A Government bill to ban tobacco advertising is introduced into WA Parliament by the Minister for Health (Barry Hodge). The Bill passed through the Legislative Assembly but was defeated by a margin of two votes in the Legislative Council

  • The National Heart Foundation starts the first major public education program on smoking-this is the birth of the QUIT campaign, which gains a world-wide reputation as a leader in innovation in advertising and public relations

  • 34% of Australian adults smoke

• 1985
• • WA libraries go smoke free
    
• • WA initiates an emphasis on the impacts of smoking on health at the National Drug Summit
    
  • 31% of Australian adults smoke

• 1986
• • Smoking is prohibited on all domestic aircraft
    
  • Smoking is phased out in all federal workplaces
    
  • WA initiates an agreement by all Health Ministers to introduce strong health warnings
    
  • Tobacco pays for a series of newspaper advertisements to persuade the public that second hand smoke is not a health problem; ACOSH, with others, lodges a formal complaint with the Advertising Standards Council, which is upheld. Justice Morling ultimately holds that the Tobacco Institute of Australia engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct, finding that second hand smoke is a cause of lung cancer, respiratory disease in children, and attacks of asthma

• 1987

  • Stronger health warnings are introduced on cigarette packets under the tobacco (Warning labels) regulations 1987:   'Smoking Causes Lung Cancer,'   'Smoking Causes Heart Disease,'   'Smoking Damages Your Lungs,'   and 'Smoking Reduces Your Fitness'

• 1989

  • The Western Australian Public Service becomes a smoke-free workplace

• 1990

  • The Tobacco Control Act 1990  passes in WA Parliament
    
  • The WA Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway) is established to replace tobacco sponsorhsip of sport and the arts with health messages; Healthway also funds health promotion and research
    
  • The fine for sales of cigarettes to under 18-year-olds increases to $5000
    
  • Free samples of cigarettes and competitions involving cigarettes are banned
    
  • The tobacco tax increases
    
  • All billboard advertising of tobacco products is phased out

• 
  1991
• • WA Schools go smoke free
    
  • TAB agencies in WA introduce smoke free policies
    
  • Point of Sale Advertising regulations under the Tobacco Control Act 1990 further restrict advertising and prohibit tobacco advertising outside of shops or in view of public places
    
  • The Prospector train to Kalgoorlie goes smoke free

• 
  1992

  • WA Taxis to smoke-free--prohibiting both drivers and passengers from smoking
    
  • 26% of Australian adults smoke

• 
  1995

  • ACOSH initiates the National Tobacco Scoreboard to recognise state, territory and federal achievements in tobacco control and draw attention to deficits in policy and funding commitments

• 
  1997

• The Federal Government removes all remaining tobacco sponsorships, including on international events
  
• A new national campaign, 'Every cigarette is doing you damage' begins
  
• The WA Government establishes a task force on passive smoking in public places

• 2000

  • 'Make Smoking History' (formerly 'Target 15) is luanched by the Cancer Council WA and the WA Department of Health. The goal: to reduce the prevalence of smoking among WA adults to 15% or less by 2010
    
  • Burswood Casino implements smoke-free gaming areas on the main gaming floor, 50% of video (poker) machines and the Cabaret Lounge

• 
  2003

• The World Health Organisation endorses the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

• 2004

  • The Labor Party announces that it will no longer accept donations from tobacco companies
    
  • The Federal government decides to implement graphic warnings occupying 30 per cent of the front and 90 per cent of the back of cigarette packets
    
  • 22% of Australian adults smoke



• 2005

  • The Tobacco Products Control Bill is introduced into Parliament to replace and update the Tobacco Control Act 1990. The Bill contains amendments to the Tobacco Control Act relating to advertising, sponsorships, packaging and labelling, exemptions, sales to minors, licensing, enforcement, administration, interpretations and judicial processes
    
  • The ACCC rules against Tobacco under the Trade Practices Act realtive to its 'lights and milds' products and campaigns

• 
  2006

  • WA hotels, nightclubs and clubs to smoke-free

• 
  2007

  • Licensing for tobacco retailers comes into force with strict limits on display of tobacco products at point of sale
    
  • The City of Fremantle makes all alfresco dining areas smoke-free
    
  • The City of Joondalup makes its 17 kilometres of beaches (from Marmion to Burns Beach) smoke-free
    
  • 19% of Australian adults smoke

• 2008

  • All Dept of Health facilities go smoke-free from 1 January 2008
    
  • The Perth Royal Show goes smoke free
    
  • State Emergency Ministers and the federal Attorney-General endorse a decision for fire-safe cigarettes
    
  • The Minister for Corrective Services makes all enclosed areas (including prisoners’ cells) at Greenough Regional Prison smoke free. Greenough is seen as a pilot for all Department of Corrections facilities becoming smoke-free.
    
  • There is significant movement by local governments going smoke-free in a range of different settings, as follows:  
    • Rockingham – smoke-free alfresco areas, from July 2008
    • Fremantle – smoke-free alfresco from 15 August 2008 
    • Perth - smoke-free alfresco from 1 July 2009
    • Joondalup - smoke-free alfresco and other areas
    • Vincent - smoke-free alfresco dining from 1 January 2009
    • Geraldton/Greenough- smoke-free alfresco and public places
    • City of Cockburn is the first West Australian local government authority to decide on a comprehensive smoke-free policy

• 
  2009

  • The Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2008 passes through WA Parliament:
    • Smoking in cars carrying children is prohibited
    • all tobacco products are to be placed out of sight at point-of-sale in retail premises
    • patrolled beaches are smoke free
    • children's playgrounds are smoke free
    • all al fresco dining areas are smoke-free, except for up to 50% in hotel’s al fresco areas

• 
  2010

• The Australian Government commits more than $100 million to 'Tackling Indigenous Smoking' over four years
  
• The Perth Zoo goes smoke free
  
• The Australian Government bans tobacco advertising on the internet
  
• The Australian Government announces a 25% increase in tobacco excise
  
• Fire-safe cigarettes are compulsory in Australia
  
• Significant additional funding is dedicated to tobacco media campaigns
  
• 14.9% of Australian adults smoke
  
• 4.8% of WA 12-17 year olds smoke

• 2011

  • Plain packaging legislation passes through federal Parliament, with implementation by 1 December 2012
    
  • Public hearings are held to inquire into the funding of political parties and election campaigns (including donations made by tobacco companies)
    
  • The Federal Government proposes new, larger, rotating graphic health warnings on tobacco products