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“
The
NSW Government has been urged to stand up to the powerful Australian
Hotels’ Association and resist further watering down of smokefree
laws.
Action
on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia has made the call in the wake of
media reports of massive political donations by pokie-rich hotels and
their powerful lobby group. Says
ASH CEO Anne Jones: “It’s too much of a coincidence that NSW has
the weakest law and among the longest delays over smokefree bars
following millions of dollars of donations from hotels and the AHA. “Hospitality
workers and patrons will have to wait until mid-2007 before the air
will be cleared of tobacco smoke toxins,” she says, “well behind
Tasmania, Queensland and WA. “And
even that so-called ‘total’ indoor smoke ban is under threat from
this powerful lobby group - which is pushing for even more concessions
to allow smoking to continue in sham ‘outdoor’ areas which are up
to 75% enclosed. “The
AHA, long allied with the tobacco industry, has used its financial
muscle to persuade the Iemma Government to ignore the basic
occupational health rights of thousands of bar workers, musicians,
entertainers and gambling machine technicians.
“WorkCover
NSW, which is supposed to protect workers’ health, has instead been
expected to turn a blind eye to the shocking and often fatal health
harm being done by smoky workplaces. “Hospitality
venues are not benefiting from this, as smokefree pubs and clubs would
attract wider custom and lessen the likelihood of expensive legal
actions by workers and patrons suffering serious health harm.
“Our
urgent requests to meet with Mr Iemma and his ministers on this issue
have been repeatedly ignored by the government. Meanwhile the AHA has
continued its lobbying assault, backed by its massive donations. “The
people of NSW are strongly in support of smokefree pubs and clubs now
– with no loopholes and no delays. We’d like to know whether the
government stands with the community or the gambling lobby.”
Comment: Anne
Jones, CEO, ASH Australia ph.
(02) 9334-1876 m.
0417-227-879 Media inquiries /
comment:
Stafford Sanders ph.
(02) 9334-1823 m.
0412-070-194
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Page last updated 1/2/06 |
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