Media release: 31 October, 2003
Trade
union and health group leaders have called on a national hoteliers’ conference
on the Gold Coast to get Australia’s pubs indoor-smokefree as soon as possible
– and on all governments to catch up with community attitudes and put total
indoor smoke bans in place.
In
a media conference today outside the national convention and trade expo of the
Australian Hotels Association at Broadbeach, Qld, representatives of the
national SmokeFree ’03 coalition donned gas masks in a symbolic show of
support for the rights of workers and patrons to safe, smokefree air.
Speakers
at the media conference included representatives of the Liquor, Hospitality and
Miscellaneous Workers’ Union (LHMU) Queensland, the Australian Medical
Association Queensland (AMAQ), the Queensland Cancer Fund (QCF), the Heart
Foundation Queensland (HFQ), and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia.
Said
Irene Monro, Assistant State Secretary of the LHMU:
“Hospitality workers have been left exposed to unsafe, smoky workplaces
for far too long already. OHS laws are supposed to protect workers from toxic
fumes. Our governments should be acting on the National Occupational Health and
Safety Commission recommendation to ban indoor smoke from all workplaces.
Politicians in smokefree workplaces who continue to deny the same protection to
our workers are hypocritical and gutless.”
Said
Dr Ingrid Tall, President of the AMAQ: “Passive
smoking is a serious threat to public health, causing a wide range of proven
health harm. To allow it to continue to waft about in public places is highly
irresponsible. Governments and proprietors must act urgently to remove this
danger.”
Said
Alan Inglis, Public Affairs Manager of the QCF:
“Worldwide research makes is clear that second-hand smoke causes cancer
in non-smokers – especially in those like the bar workers who suffer repeated
exposure. Neither governments nor employers can afford to have this on their
consciences.”
Said
Alison Durham, Advocacy Manager of the HFQ:
“There is research evidence that making these venues totally smokefree
would have an immediate impact on reducing heart attacks in our community. And
people with heart conditions are effectively denied access to smoky pubs. This
is unacceptable.”
Said
Anne Jones, Chief Executive of ASH: “Public
opinion overwhelmingly supports total indoor smoke bans in pubs and clubs –
including a clear majority of regular patrons. Governments in Ireland, Norway,
the Netherlands, the Philippines and six American states have gone smokefree –
it’s time we did too.”
Comment:
Irene Monro (LHMU) ph. 0419-767-786; Anne Jones (ASH) ph.
0417-227-879; Dr Ingrid Tall (AMAQ) via
Stacey Coglan, ph. 0400-110-565; Alan Inglis (QCF)
ph. 0409-262-398; Alison
Durham (HFQ) ph. 0407-032-728.
Media
info, comment:
Stafford Sanders, SF’03
ph. (02) 9334-1823
SmokeFree '03 coalition:
Liquor,
Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union; Musicians’ Union of Australia; Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Australian Council of
Trade Unions; Action on Smoking and Health Australia; The Cancer Council
Australia; National Heart Foundation of Australia; Australian Council on Smoking
and Health; Non-Smokers’ Movement of Australia; Australian Medical
Association.