Media release: May 10, 2005
New
smokefree licensed premises legislation tabled by the Victorian government will
allow smoking to continue in mostly-enclosed areas even after July 2007, say
health and employee organisations.
The
SmokeFree Australia coalition* has urged the Victorian government to close a
“dangerous loophole” in its Tobacco (Amendment) Bill 2005 which would allow
workers and patrons to continue being exposed to harmful secondhand smoke levels
in spaces up to 75% enclosed.
Says
SmokeFree Australia spokesperson Terry Noone of the Musicians’ Union:
“The present bill is flawed in allowing so-called ‘outdoor’ smoking areas
which are not really outdoors but up to 75% enclosed. These spaces will continue
to cause serious health problems, especially to workers and regular patrons.
“A
much safer model exists in Queensland, where smoking areas will be genuinely
‘outdoors’ and will not have bar staff or entertainers working in them. We
urge the Victorian parliament to amend its bill along the Queensland lines. This
would be consistent with a commitment to occupational health and safety, public
health and disability discrimination considerations.
“Hospitality
workers, including musicians and other entertainers, deserve the same protection
other workers enjoy – working in safe smokefree workplaces.
“Allowing
venues to create a smoky space with a roof and three walls and call it
‘unenclosed’ would leave thousands of employees and patrons of pubs, clubs
and other venues dangerously exposed to tobacco’s known toxic and carcinogenic
compounds.
“It’s
also unwise to create public and industry confusion over ratios and percentages
of wallspace when this could largely be avoided by following the Queensland
example.
“Tobacco
smoke should be treated in much the same way as asbestos – it is dangerous and
should be removed from wherever staff or customers might be exposed.”
More at www.ashaust.org.au/SF’03/partly.htm
Comment:
Terry Noone, Federal Secretary, Musicians’ Union
m. 0408-405-657
Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1823 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.