Media release: December 2, 2004
A
major asthma and COPD research institute has called for smoke bans to go further
to protect workers and patrons with respiratory conditions in licensed venues.
The
Asthma and Allergy Research Institute (AARI) in Perth has called for indoor
smoke bans in pubs and clubs, just announced to take effect in mid-2006, to be
extended to crowded outdoor drinking and dining areas and to include the
exempted high roller room at Burswood Casino.
And
the Institute has become the newest member of SmokeFree Australia, the national
coalition of health and trade union organisations campaigning for smokefree
workplaces.
Says
AARI Director, Associate Professor Philip Thompson:
“While we welcome the Western Australian Government’s decision this
week to ban indoor smoking in pubs and clubs from mid-2006, we are concerned
there may still be staff and patrons exposed to dangerous concentrations of
secondhand smoke in crowded outdoor eating and drinking areas.
“This
is unacceptable, and amounts to discrimination both in employment and service
against people with respiratory conditions, whose health can be immediately and
seriously threatened by any exposure to tobacco smoke.
“Neither
is it fair or reasonable that staff should be expected to work in areas such as
the casino’s ‘high-roller’ room among dense clouds of toxic smoke.
“We
urge the Government to extend the ban to these areas as soon as possible.”
Comment:
Assoc Prof Philip Thompson, Director, Asthma and Allergy Research
Institute
via Saskia
Mazzella, Public Relations Officer, Ph. (08) 9346-4758 or m. 0417-973-262
Media info: Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree Australia ph. (02) 9334-1823 or m. 0412-070-194
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; Asthma and Allergy Research Institute.