Australia has a strong record of success in tobacco control, getting our regular (daily + weekly) smoking rate down to around 19% (2004). 

But more can and must be done - as each day in Australia, 50 people die prematurely from smoking tobacco products. Around 3 million Australians are still regular smokers. Deaths caused by tobacco - over 15,000 each year - represent more than the combined deaths from road and all other accidents, alcohol and all illicit drugs, murder, suicide, HIV, breast cancer and more.

Research shows that around 70% of smokers want to quit - and comprehensive, sustained anti-smoking campaigns overseas have succeeded in reducing smoking rates well below the current Australian rate. The cost of achieving such a reduction would be more than offset by savings in health care costs - and the health benefits to smokers, their families and businesses is well recognised.

Although Government investment in reducing smoking rates has improved in recent years, it's still too low given the scale of the problem. And per capita, Australian (federal and state) funding of anti-tobacco measures is outstripped three to one by comparable OECD countries (the US, Canada and New Zealand).

We support:

• full funding for the Australian National Tobacco Strategy 2004-09; and 
  
• overall government funding for education and prevention strategies increased to a level of $10 per capita.

What should governments be spending on tobacco control?  
See  National Tobacco Strategy 2004-09 funding guidelines  signed off by all Australian governments.