Media release: 4 December 2003
All
NZ workplaces will be smokefree in 12 months
... and Australian workers won't have a
bar of further delays
Australian
governments have been urged to fast-track smokefree workplace laws after the New
Zealand parliament passed legislation late yesterday making all its workplaces
smokefree, including pubs and clubs.
New
Zealand follows Ireland, Norway, the Philippines and six US states which have
all made similar moves. The
NZ parliament acted after research showing that bar and restaurant workers in
smoke-allowing venues ended their shifts with nicotine levels comparable to
smokers, suffered from a range of respiratory problems and were at increased
risk of developing lung cancer and chronic heart disease.*
The
SmokeFree Australia (formerly SmokeFree ’03) coalition of trade union and
health groups called on Australian states and territories to follow suit
urgently. Says coalition spokesperson, ACTU Assistant Secretary Richard Marles:
“Australia
is now lagging behind in protecting its workforce from the proven serious health
dangers of secondhand tobacco smoke. These other countries have recognised what
the research worldwide and within Australia has shown: that tobacco smoke causes
cancer, heart and respiratory disease, that it can kill even in typical daily
doses of the kind people are working in every day in our pubs and clubs.
“It’s
a scandal that this category of the Australian workforce has been denied for so
long the protection from toxic chemicals taken for granted by workers in other
industries under OHS laws. This would be bad enough from any government – for
Labor governments to allow it to continue is simply a disgrace.
“Our
bar workers, entertainers and musicians in pubs and clubs are sick of being
treated as second-class citizens, their health compromised at the behest of
tobacco-friendly interests cosying up to our politicians and pushing for long
phase-ins and discredited ventilation and separation measures.
“We
want no more delays and no more exemptions. We will intensify our campaign to
protect the health and legal rights of workers and patrons. It’s time for
urgent and comprehensive legislation in all Australian jurisdictions”, says
Anne Jones, Chief Executive of ASH Australia.
* Wael Al-Delaimy et al 2001,
‘Nicotine in hair of bar and restaurant workers’, NZ Medical Journal, vol.
114, pp.
80-83. Research on harm to
Australian and UK workers at www.ashaust.org.au/SF'03/health.htm
Comment:
Richard Marles, ACTU
ph. (03)
9664-7340
Comment
/ media info:
Anne Jones, ASH
mob. 0417227879
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.