Media release: September 24, 2009
Health and employee
organisations have called for all Australian governments to make all workplaces
100% smokefree, indoors and out – after new studies showed smokefree laws
reduce heart attacks by even more than previously thought.
Two
new research reviews show that smokefree public places laws have cut heart
attacks in Europe and
One
of the papers, in Circulation journal* examined data from 13 separate
analyses and concluded: "Passage of strong smoke-free
legislation produces rapid and substantial benefits in terms of
reduced acute myocardial infarctions, and these benefits grow with
time." The other review, in the Journal of the
Commenting
on the findings, Heart Foundation tobacco spokesperson Maurice Swanson said: “These
results confirm that smokefree laws significantly reduce tobacco smoke exposure
and cut dramatically the rates of acute heart attacks.
“Comprehensive
smokefree laws saves lives, health and public money.”
SmokeFree
Says
Maurice Swanson: “No government can afford to rest on its laurels with
legislation that was based on old research – all jurisdictions should now
review their laws in the light of this new evidence.
“Opposition
to smokefree laws based on gambling revenue arguments should be balanced against
the very high costs of hospital and medical treatment for heart attacks that can
be prevented by comprehensive laws.
“This
is not something that should be left to piecemeal policies by local governments
– it is the responsibility of state and territory governments to enact clear
and strong legislation with no exemptions.
“The
Federal Government should monitor and co-ordinate this process to ensure that we
are meeting our commitment under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control to
protect all people from the known health harm caused by secondhand smoke.”
*
Lightwood/Glantz review in Circulation
at
abstract
Expert
/ policy comment:
Maurice
Swanson, Heart Foundation
m. 0401-090-915
Media
info/ policy comment:
Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree
* SmokeFree Australia coalition
for clean safe workplaces:
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