Media release: December 10, 2008
Powerful
and tobacco-friendly gambling interests are lobbying against protecting the
health of workers and patrons – claiming a permanent licence to kill, say
health and employee groups.
The
Australian Hotels Association and Clubs NSW have mounted a media campaign
against the smokefree laws, claiming to support them but blaming them for gaming
revenue losses.
Says
Stafford Sanders, co-ordinator of the SmokeFree Australia coalition:*
“This is a thinly-disguised push by a tobacco-allied gambling lobby
that claims a divine right to continue milking pokie profit from
nicotine-addicted heavy gamblers by wilfully exposing staff and patrons to
toxic, carcinogenic fumes.
“We’re
facing an aggressive scare campaign to stop state and territory governments
following the popular and practical Queensland policy of separating smoking from
eating, gambling and all working areas.
“The
Queensland laws have worked well, improving employees’ and patrons’ health -
with no overall harm to the hospitality industry, which is doing very well based
on reliable sales figures.
“Contrast
that with jurisdictions like the NT and NSW – where in pubs, clubs, gaming and
eating areas, thousands of bar and
gaming workers, waiters, cleaners, entertainers and others are constantly
exposed to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes, cancer, lung
disease, meningococcal disease and more.
“Work
safety authorities, rather than enforcing elimination of this hazard, are
allowing venues to ‘manage’ it. Imagine if we’d dealt with asbestos by
knocking one wall out and shoving the workers back into the stuff !”
SmokeFree
Australia points out that:
AHA
and Clubs routinely fail to mention gains in non-gambling revenue, other
economic factors affecting falling revenue, and massive savings to state
budgets in health costs from reducing active and passive smoking health harm
to workers and patrons.
The
fact that club memberships have reached record highs suggests that patrons
are not deterred by smoke-free environments - in fact, many more are
attracted by them.
A
drop in gaming revenue, in light of record patronage, would suggest that
gaming venues have been exploiting smokers, who are often those least able
to afford the gaming losses.
“Lost”
poker machine revenue does not disappear down a black hole, but is spent
elsewhere.
Regulatory
impact studies have noted that using gaming venues as a means to direct
financial support to charities and sporting groups is not the only nor even
the best way for these groups to be supported.
Says
Stafford Sanders: “It’s long past time all governments stood up to for
public health and work safety and revoked this licence to kill.”
Comment:
Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1823 m.
0412-070-194
*
SmokeFree Australia coalition
for safe workplaces (see weblink:
www.ashaust.org.au/SF’03)
Action
on Smoking and Health Australia; Asthma and Allergy Research Institute;
Australian Council of Trade Unions;
Australian Council on Smoking and Health; Australian Medical Association; Cancer
Council Australia; Heart Foundation;
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union; Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Musicians’ Union of
Australia;
Non-Smokers’ Movement of Australia