Media release and
alert:
4 December, 2002
Norway
to eliminate smoking in all workplaces
Hospitality entertainers join
coalition of unions and health leaders
to ask: Why not Australia?
A
growing coalition of unions and health leaders is calling for Australia to
fast-track an end to smoking in all workplaces, including pubs and clubs, after
Norway moved to become the first country in the world to totally eliminate
workplace smoking.
The
Norwegian Government said almost all groups, including unions and employers,
support their proposed legislation and it expects to win broad backing from all
the major parties. When passed by parliament, the law protecting employees and
guests from tobacco smoke toxins will take effect on January 1, 2004.
In
Australia, the SmokeFree ’03 coalition has urged federal and state governments
to comply with safety laws and ensure all workplaces are free of tobacco smoke
pollution by end-2003.
Says
Ron Edwards, Director of ACOSH (the Australian Council on Smoking and Health,
based in Perth, a new member of the coalition): “There’s no reason why we
can’t match Norway’s initiative, as it’s part of an international trend. All credible research shows such a move would be popular,
would protect employees and patrons from cancer, heart disease and respiratory
ailments, and would have no adverse effect on business profits.
“In
California, they’ve had smokefree bars since 1998 and the evidence shows the
move has been beneficial for staff, customers and business owners. So why the
holdup in Australia?”
Among
affected employees are actors and comics working in pubs, clubs and gaming
venues. Their union, the MEAA (Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance) has also
joined SmokeFree ’03. Says MEAA Actors’ Equity Secretary Simon Whipp: “No
one should have to breathe tobacco smoke pollution to hold a job. Passive smoke
causes cancer, heart disease, asthma and respiratory disease. It harms our
members’ health and affects their work.”
Adds
Anne Jones of ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) Australia: “We’ve already
had ten years of occupational health and safety laws – it’s time workers in
hospitality venues had the same level of protection as workers in other
industries. There’s no excuse for any more delay.”
Media
info / SF’03 contacts:
Stafford
Sanders, ASH ph. (02)
9334-1823; Anne Jones, ASH
ph. 0417-227-879
SmokeFree
’03 coalition:
Liquor,
Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union (LHMU); Musicians’ Union of
Australia;
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA); Australian Council of Trade
Unions (ACTU);
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia; The Cancer Council Australia (TCCA);
National Heart Foundation of Australia (NHF); Australian Council on Smoking and
Health (ACOSH).