Media release: 19 November, 2003
Health groups and trade union leaders have
urged Federal and State Workplace Relations Ministers to take definite action
for a speedy end to smoky workplaces when the ministers meet in Melbourne on
November 20.
Members
of the SmokeFree Australia coalition (formerly SmokeFree ’03) have written to
the ministers, urging them to adopt or endorse a new National Occupational
Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) guideline recommending a total ban on
indoor smoking in all workplaces, including pubs and clubs.
The
Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council (WRMC) consists of the Federal and all
state/territory workplace ministers, who meet nationally approximately twice a
year.
Says
coalition spokesperson Terry Noone, Federal Secretary of the Musicians’ Union
of Australia: “Quick implementation of laws banning indoor smoking in all
workplaces – specifically including the hospitality industry - is now
absolutely essential to save lives, health, public money and business costs.
“All
independent research shows the community – including a majority of licensed
venue patrons - clearly supports the rapid implementation of such a policy,”
he adds.
SmokeFree
Australia wants all members of the WRMC to indicates their public endorsement of
the NOHSC recommendation, and to indicate what steps they will take to ensure
its implementation in their jurisdictions - with no further dangerous and costly
delays. Implementation should include a commitment to speedy legislative
amendment and/or clear steps to enforce existing or amended occupational health
and safety laws against tobacco smoke in workplaces.
“Merely
passing the entire responsibility for this to Health Ministers would not be
acceptable,” says Terry Noone, ”since this is also clearly an occupational
safety issue and demands public commitment and action from that standpoint.
“Many
thousands of pub and club workers, including musicians and entertainers, are
being exposed to dangerous levels of tobacco smoke every day while these
ministers sit in their safely smokefree offices. We would like to know what they
are going to do to safeguard workers’ basic health rights.”
Comment:
Terry Noone
ph. 0409-405-657
Media
info / comment:
Stafford Sanders
ph. (02) 9334-1823
SmokeFree Australia coalition
for clean safe workplaces:
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.