FEDERAL BUDGET 2005: ANTI-SMOKING INITIATIVES

From 2005 Budget Papers at http://www.budget.gov.au/2005-06/bp2/html/expense-14-a.htm#TopOfPage

Strengthening Cancer Care — quitting smoking during pregnancy  

The Government will provide $4.3 million over three years to encourage doctors, health workers and midwives to give advice to pregnant women — particularly Indigenous women — about the damage caused by smoking, and to assist these women to quit smoking and not commence again after giving birth. The initiative will also provide an opportunity to educate partners or family members on their role in supporting a pregnant woman who wants to stop smoking.

This measure was announced on 4 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment Strengthening Cancer Care.

National Tobacco Youth Campaign  

The Government will provide $25.0 million over four years to develop and implement a new national health promotion campaign to help reduce tobacco use among young people. The campaign will involve a combination of mass media and community education anti-smoking messages. Counselling services and websites will be developed in close collaboration with state and territory Quit services.

The National Tobacco Youth Campaign will help to strengthen young people’s resolve to enjoy tobacco free lifestyles in line with Australia’s commitment to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.  

Smoking and pregnancy

The Australian Government is committed to reducing the number of women smoking during pregnancy, and the associated adverse health affects, by providing new funding of $4.3 million over three years to 2007-08 to encourage doctors, midwives and Indigenous health workers to advise pregnant women about the damage caused by smoking.

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishing.nsf/Content/health-budget2005-hbudget-hfact1.htm

Youth Smoking initiative

The Australian Government will spend $25 million over four years in a new anti-smoking campaign targeting young people.
Tobacco smoking is the single largest preventable cause of premature death and disease in Australia.
Young people are smoking at higher rates than the rest of the community. The average age when Australians start to smoke is 16, but many adolescents are starting younger. Research has indicated that the earlier a person commences, the more likely it is that he or she will become a regular smoker.
Studies have found that teenagers can be strongly influenced by their parents’ attitudes to smoking.
The campaign will aim to strengthen young people’s resilience to peer group pressure, and reinforce the benefits of lifestyles without smoking.

Media contact: Adam Howard 0400 414 833 (Parliamentary Secretary Pyne's Office)
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishing.nsf/Content/health-budget2005-hbudget-hmedia08.htm

Other health initiatives

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/budget/publishing.nsf/Content/health-budget2005-glance.htm

Estimated revenue from tobacco excise duty 

see Table 4

http://www.budget.gov.au/2005-06/bp1/html/bst5-04.htm#TopOfPage

For current excise rate, see Table B3

http://www.budget.gov.au/2005-06/bp1/html/bst5-06.htm#TopOfPage