Media release: August 31, 2004
Health,
trade union and community leaders have urged the Carr Government to end the
decade of delay and introduce total indoor smoke bans in pubs and clubs by early
next year.
At
a demonstration outside NSW Parliament today (August 31), supporters of
the SmokeFree Australia coalition called on all parliamentary parties to
urgently support an early-2005 deadline for safely smokefree workplaces to save
lives, protect workers and patrons, and uphold occupational safety laws.
A
speaker at the rally, Manly Mayor Dr Peter Macdonald, said: “There is every good reason to get an effective total ban
in place now – and no good reason to put off the inevitable for another year
or two. Immediate bans have the overwhelming support of the community, of the
workers affected, of health and occupational safety experts. They are opposed
only by the tobacco industry and its close allies.”
Added
another speaker, Dr John Gullotta, President of the Australian Medical
Association (NSW): “Further delays will cost our communities lives, health and
money. Evidence mounts almost daily that secondhand smoke causes cancer, heart
disease, asthma, bronchitis and more – especially to workers and regular
patrons. It is already killing people and will kill more unless it is stopped
immediately.”
And
speaker Stafford Sanders, co-ordinator of SmokeFree Australia and a former
pub/club musician and entertainer, pointed out: ”Allowing tobacco smoke
indoors is a continuing breach of the OHS Act. It poses an intolerable danger to
bar workers – including musicians and other entertainers. This highly toxic
and carcinogenic substance needs to be banned quickly from all indoor areas to
make these workplaces safe.”
SmokeFree
Australia partners want the Carr government to put health and safety ahead of
short-term problem gambling revenue, and implement an immediate ban; to instruct
WorkCover NSW to do its job of protecting all
workers from toxic harm; and to ensure a total ban is not avoided by weak
regulations.
The
coalition has also sought a meeting with the Assistant Health (Cancer) Minister,
Mr Sartor.
Comment:
Dr John Gullotta, President AMA
(NSW) via
m. 0407-776-581
Dr Peter Macdonald, Mayor of Manly
m. 0438-381-098
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.