Media release: May 29, 2004
Some
of NSW’s and Australia’s biggest names have endorsed an Open Letter
published today, calling on the Carr Government to immediately ban indoor
smoking in pubs and clubs to protect the health of bar workers and patrons.
Supporters
include three former Australians of the Year: Sir Gustav Nossal, Prof Fiona
Stanley and Dr John Yu; sports stars Kostya Tszyu, Zali Steggall,
Liz Ellis, Johnnie Warren and Linley Frame; arts and entertainment
figures Thomas Keneally, John Bell, John Wood, Di Morrissey, Linda Jaivin,
Graeme Murphy, Joy McKean (widow of Slim Dusty), Anne Kirkpatrick, Little
Pattie, iOTA, Rob Hirst and Monica Trapaga; charity leaders Gabi
Hollows, Rev Harry Herbert and Petrea King; and Mayors Clover
Moore (Sydney), Dr Peter Macdonald (Manly) and Rex Stubbs
(Hawkesbury).
These
are among 214 leading health and legal professionals, businesspeople, academics,
sportspeople, unionists, arts, church, political and community leaders who have
endorsed the letter.*
The
government has “put Frank Sartor in charge of a historically unprecedented
drive to reduce cancer in NSW through the Cancer Institute” says the Open
Letter. “The first test of the
integrity of your policy will be to act to protect the health of the state’s
bar staff and customers.”
A
Joint Working Group on Smokefree Licensed Premises is about to report to the
Cancer Minister – and public opinion, influenced by research showing a high
level of bar worker deaths and illness from secondhand smoke, overwhelmingly
favours an immediate total indoor smoke ban.
Says
the author of the letter, Public Health Professor Simon Chapman from the
University of Sydney:
“These
endorsements show the strength of community support for a total indoor ban.
Survey after survey shows public support rising past 70%; more than
22,000 people have sent cards of support to the government; health leaders are
unanimous, as are the unions representing bar workers and entertainers; and
venue licensees and managers accept that a ban by legislation is inevitable.
“Such
bans have been a great success worldwide, yielding immediate health
improvements, causing no loss of business, and helping drive smoking rates down
- especially among young people. Several countries including Ireland and NZ, and
six US states, have legislated total bans – why not NSW?
“The government has been talking about this for more than ten years. Any further delay will mean more preventable deaths, disease… and lawsuits. It’s time to draw the line and stop this preventable harm.”
*
The Open Letter will be published in the Sydney Morning Herald on May 29 and 31.
See the letter and full list of endorsements at www.ashaust.org.au/SF’03/files/OpLetNSWnames.htm
Comment:
Prof Simon Chapman (Sydney University)
m. 0438-340-304
Anne
Jones (ASH Australia)
m.
0417-227-879
Comment
/ media:
Stafford Sanders (SmokeFree Australia)
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.