Media release: March 7, 2006
The
gambling lobby is expecting NSW parliament this week to rubber-stamp a dangerous
loophole allowing pubs and clubs to endanger their workers in smoky workplaces.
As
far back as June 2005 the Australian Hotels Association gave its members the
green light to build smoking rooms almost 75% enclosed – without the approval
of parliament that should have been required for a regulation defining
“enclosed” under the Smoke-free Environment Act.
Now
the AHA is arguing that since these venues have now invested capital in these
fake “outdoor” areas, the parliament should now rubber-stamp the regulation,
which comes before parliament this week.
The
SmokeFree Australia coalition of health and employee organisations* is urging
MPs to disallow the unhealthy regulation. Says co-ordinator Stafford Sanders:
“This
is an attempt to bully the parliament of this state into retrospectively
approving unsafe workplaces on the basis that money has been spent on them.
“These
mostly enclosed smoking rooms did not have the approval of the parliament or of
the Health Department but were built anyway. There is no research evidence
establishing that they protect the health of patrons, nor the safety of workers
– who will suffer serious health harm in them.
“These
employers had more than ten years of Occupational Health and Safety laws in NSW
under which to make their workplaces safe by eliminating secondhand tobacco
smoke – which is known to cause several cancers, heart disease, respiratory
failure, sexual harm and many other conditions.
“Instead,
some venues, encouraged by the AHA, have rushed into building smoking rooms
aimed at continuing to slip around the OH&S laws – at a time when they
knew parliament would be required to consider new definitions under the
Smoke-free Environment Act.
“The
gambling bosses now expect MPs to meekly approve their presumptuous actions -
complaining that they can’t afford to make their venues safe, although
they’re drawing over $5b a year from NSW punters.
“If
their regulation is approved, it will show that parliament is no match for the
financial clout of the gambling lobby, and is prepared to allow these wealthy
interests to dictate the state’s ‘health’ policy.
“Even
the smokefree dining we thought we had will now come under threat if this goes
through.
“The
people of NSW – who want quick and tight smoke bans in pubs and clubs – and
the workers, whose lives are at stake, expect MPs to uphold public and
occupational safety and the proper role of parliament.”
See
new factsheet at www.ashaust.org.au/pdfs/TFacMPNSW0603.pdf
Comment:
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.