Media release: 19 November, 2003
Health
and trade union leaders have branded as “an outrageous sellout” a move by
non-government MPs in the ACT Legislative Assembly to delay smokefree workplaces
until 2008.
Democrat,
Green and Independent MPs are reported to have accepted a Liberal amendment to a
Private Member’s Bill by Independent MP Helen Cross, under which total indoor
smoke bans would not come into force in exempted venues until 2008.
Says
SmokeFree Australia spokesperson Anne Jones:
“All
members of our coalition* are shocked at this development, and urge all MPs to
reconsider. The setting of such a distant deadline would be a betrayal of the
basic OHS rights of hospitality workers, flying in the face of the strong
National Occupational Health and Safety Commission recommendation for smokefree
workplaces to be introduced as soon as possible.
“A
2008 deadline would be a disaster for public health in the ACT”, she says
“– locking the territory into the most backward smokefree workplace
legislation in Australia.
“It
would be better to see the current bill withdrawn altogether, and to campaign
instead for a realistic deadline in government legislation promised for early
2004.
“A
mountain of credible, objective evidence has established that secondhand smoke
is harmful and potentially deadly; that it is especially harmful to hospitality
workers; that it is not adequately addressed by ventilation or separate areas;
that the community overwhelmingly supports total indoor smoke bans; and that
total bans would do minimal or no economic harm to hospitality venues.
“ACT
Assembly members have a simple choice,” says Anne Jones: “to back the
evidence and the public to end unsafe workplaces, or to back the tobacco
industry and greedy clubs at the expense of the health of bar workers.”
Comment:
Anne Jones, ASH Australia
ph. 0417-227-879
Media info/comment: Stafford Sanders ph. (02) 9334-1823
NOTE:
After this release, the ACT Assembly decided on a 2006 deadline.
* SmokeFree Australia coalition
for safe clean 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.