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News and Campaigns

Casinos
Restaurants/Cafes
Bars/Clubs
Prisons/Psychiatric Institutions
• Smokefree Cars/Homes
Beaches/Sporting Fields/Outdoor Events
Fire Safe Cigarettes
Local Government
Indigenous Smoking
Make Smoking History Campaign

 

Campaigns for Smoke Free Areas in Public Places

ACOSH has vigorously pushed for restrictions on smoking in public areas. Recent changes reflect success in this area, but there still is a long way to go as ACOSH continues to work to achieve a Smokefree State. Some of ACOSH's recent activities in the fight for a smokefree state:

Burswood Resort Casino

Background

The main gaming room of the Burswood Intenational Resort Casino went smokefree from 21 December 2001. Most of the remainder of the facility from July 2006. However, the Casino operator sought a continuing exemption from the 'Smokefree Enclosed Public Places Regulations' for the 'High Roller Room' and the WA Government granted their request.

Click here for the ACOSH Casino Campaign\

 

 

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Restaurant Restaurants/Cafes

On July 31st 2006, all indoor public places in Western Australia became smoke-free. There is still concern however for outdoor alfresco areas which still allow smoking near food.

ACOSH previously conducted a survey on members of the hospitality industry and patrons in Fremantle, West Perth, Leederville and Subiaco to assess attitudes towards the Regulations and possible future change. Initial concerns that the Regulations might adversely affect business were shown to be largely unfounded as 64% of owners stated the Regulations had a positive impact on business; just 8% observed a negative change.

Restaurant

Although a majority of owners expressed apprehension at the prospect of outdoor dining areas becoming smoke-free, the survey revealed most patrons endorsed the move.

At the beginning of October 2005 ACOSH launched a campaign that all alfresco dining areas such as courtyards, on footpaths or balconies should become smokefree. The then ACOSH President, Professor Peter Le Souëf, said:

"People love to eat and socialize outdoors in WA, especially during our beautiful summer months, but, nothing is more irritating when you are sitting down to enjoy a nice meal, or a good coffee and someone at the next table lights up. Areas where food is served must become smokefree; this includes all cafes, restaurants (licensed or unlicensed) and pubs."

“People with asthma and other respiratory diseases can suffer an attack from the passive smoke of others; even in an outdoor setting. Also, there are often children eating with families; their health potentially at risk. Not to mention the modelling of aberrant behaviour in front of children!”  said Professor Le Souëf.

This was a relatively low key launch as ACOSH was still in the midst of preparing for smoke free enclosed public places. However, it is noteworthy that ACOSH has received many calls from members of the public who are very supportive of this campaign.

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Bars/Clubs

Background

Tobacco Facts for Pubs & Clubs (PDF file)

Since 1st July 2006, all pubs, nightclubs and clubs are smokefree in Western Australia. ACOSH continues to monitor compliance.

There has been a positive outcome as a result of the new smoking restrictions. A survey conducted by the Cancer Council WA showed that nearly 80 per cent of smokers have not been discouraged from going out to pubs and clubs and non-smokers are now going to pubs and clubs more often as a result of the new smoke free environment.

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Prisons and Psychiatric Institutions

The Minister for Health, Jim McGinty, announced a review of smoking in prisons in 2004. He also made some comments on this during parliamentary debate on the Tobacco Products Control Bill, and made extensive comments to the media on this issue during August 2005.

On January 8, 2006 the Minister for Justice (Prisons), John D’Orazio announced that prisoners will no longer be allowed to smoke in prison cells from August 2007.

Following this announcement a delegation from ACOSH met with the Minister for Justice and urged him to turn WA prisons into smokefree environments. ACOSH then wrote to the Minister giving detailed answers to some questions he had posed. Unfortunately, there was a change in the Ministry and the momentum was lost. ACOSH continues to work on this matter.

With regard to psychiatric institutions going smokefree, while we are encouraged by the Minister's commitment, we are not aware of any significant progress in this area. ACOSH has been monitoring developments on this in other parts of Australia and overseas and will continue to work to ensure appropriate support for people in psychiatric institutions.

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Smokefree Cars and Homes

A 2004 survey of over 1300 Australians in 800 households showed over 90% (including 73% of smokers) support banning smoking in cars carrying children. The evidence is compelling that smoking in vehicles endangers children by exposing them to second-hand smoke.

Both the AMA and ACOSH have campaigned on this issue over some years.

Dr Kim Hames, the Opposition Spokesperson on Health, introduced a private member’s bill calling for the banning of cigarette smoking in cars. It became clear that the government would not support the bill, and that the majority of members of his own party did not support proceeding with that legislation. He then proceeded to call for a public education campaign and the Minister for Health announced that the Cancer Council had been funded to run a campaign that specifically targets parents about the danger of smoking in cars and in the home when children are present.

Although smoking in homes is not banned, it can be a nuisance when interfering with neighbours. Here is an interesting article regarding this matter: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/no-ifs-no-butts--no-smoking/2007/02/27/1172338624538.html.

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Beaches, sporting fields, outdoor events

In December 2005, ACOSH received high level media coverage in relation to calls for smokefree beaches, children’s playgrounds, sporting fields and outdoor public events (eg rock concerts). Coverage included:

• Headline story, front page of The West Australian (27.12.2005)

• Leading story on multi station radio news bulletins

• Leading story on news programs on four TV stations.

ACOSH continues to work in co-operation with Local Government and the relevant peak body over these matters.

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Fire Safe Cigarettes

Cigarette-caused fires kill an average of 14 people a year in Australia, and cost around $80m in damage. There is also evidence that many fires are started from lit cigarettes being thrown from car windows, with the NSW Fire Service estimating that around 4% of all cigarettes thrown from car windows start some kind of fire. Tobacco companies put chemicals in cigarette paper to make them smoulder longer. Cigarettes can easily be made more self-extinguishing by removing or reducing these chemicals.

ACOSH along with other tobacco control agencies is seeking an appropriate national standard for the requirement of tobacco companies to produce "reduced ignition propensity" cigarettes (cigarettes that are self-extinguishing). When implemented, this will not only save lives and reduce the number of people who suffer burn injuries, but will also reduce the substantial damage costs and an estimated 4,000 fires each year caused by discarded cigarettes.

All State and Territory Ministers for Fire and Emergency Services in Australia and their Fire Chiefs strongly support the introduction of a fire safe standard for cigarettes.

The Commonwealth needs to introduce legislation to mandate compliance - the minimum standard to at least be consistent with US & Canada minimum.

The tobacco industry continues to lobby against sensible regulation to introduce a standard for reduced fire risk cigarettes.

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Local Government

By making areas under council control smokefree, local governments can make a huge difference in the safety, health and cleanliness of the community. This includes areas such as beaches, sporting facilities, parks, playgrounds, outdoor alfresco areas and public events like concerts.

ACOSH welcomes and supports the decisions of local governments taking action in tobacco control.

Recent announcements include the City of Fremantle's decision to make all outdoor alfresco areas smokefree. Other councils are urged to follow this move.

On 24th May 2007, the City of Joondalup announced that its 17 kilometres of beaches from Marmion to Burns Beach will become smokefree.

Other councils are encouraged to follow these precedents.

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Indigenous Smoking

In March 2008, an Indigenous Health Equality Summit was held in Canberra on closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people within a generation. Click on the link to view the ACOSH background paper: Closing the gap through Indigenous tobacco control.

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Make Smoking History

Smoke Free in WA PosterMake Smoking History is an initiative of the Cancer Council Western Australia aiming to reinvigorate and contribute to efforts to drive down the prevalence of smoking among adults in Western Australia.

 

For more information: Make Smoking History campaign
Email: MakeSmokingHistory@cancerwa.asn.au

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Click here to view national (Australian) and state (WA) smoking Legislation

 

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