Media release: March 29, 2006
The
NSW Legislative Council has shown a shameful double standard in approving a
regulation allowing smoking to continue in mostly enclosed workplaces, say
employee and health groups.
The
Council yesterday ejected protesting barworkers from its public gallery for
lighting cigarettes in the MPs’ workplace – but has today rubber-stamped the
continued exposure of thousands of barworkers and entertainers to toxic
secondhand tobacco smoke in their own workplaces.
Says
SmokeFree Australia* co-ordinator Stafford Sanders:
“The regulation these MPs have just passed will allow areas up to
almost 75% enclosed to sneak around the so-called ‘total’ indoor smoke ban
due to take effect from July 2007.
“The
result will be that thousands of barworkers, including musicians and other
entertainers, will continue to be expected to work in clouds of toxic tobacco
smoke – causing heart and respiratory disease and a range of hideous
cancers.”
“It
would be so easy to do what’s right and safe here. Unlike NSW, both Queensland
and Tasmania have legislated that any remaining smoking areas must be
substantially outdoors, separate and unserviced.
“Bar
workers, entertainers, health leaders and the NSW community overwhelmingly
support quick and total bans, with no loopholes - but the Australian Hotels
Association and other tobacco-friendly interests have pressured the major
parties to allow these unhealthy workplaces to continue, undermining OH&S
and Disability Discrimination laws.
“This
regulation was foisted on parliament as a fait accompli
to suit the AHA, without consultation with unions representing the
barworkers, musicians or entertainers, and without any basis in health research
or scientific evidence.
“Far
from providing certainty, it will leave proprietors, patrons and workers in
confusion and leave venues wide open to legal action by people whose health is
harmed.”
Comment:
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.