ASH Australia media release                                        February 25, 2005

World tobacco treaty comes into force

... but tobacco industry opposes moves to reduce harm 

“

Health leaders say the first worldwide tobacco control treaty, which comes into effect on Sunday, should lead to greater government commitment to combating the smoking epidemic and resisting opposition from the tobacco industry.

The Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) comes into force on February 27 in the countries that have ratified it – including Australia. 

The National Heart Foundation of Australia, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and The Cancer Council Australia have all congratulated the Federal Government for ratifying the FCTC, and urged it to back the treaty with a commitment to renew the fight against tobacco in Australia and among our Asia-Pacific neighbours.

The three organisations agree that the first step should be a boost in government funding to fully implement the National Tobacco Strategy 2004-2009, which so far lacks a sustainable funding commitment from the government. The health groups have written to Federal MPs this month pointing out that: 

• Tobacco continues to be Australia’s Number 1 preventable health problem and our leading drug problem – killing more than 19,000 Australians a year, occupying almost a million hospital bed days, costing the nation more than $21b a year and threatening further health cost blowouts; and

• With 205,000 Australian schoolchildren smoking weekly, the National Tobacco Strategy needs to be fully funded and implemented to ensure ongoing reductions in smoking rates amongst both adults and children.

Says Anne Jones, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia: “Though reducing smoking prevalence is proven to be very cost effective for governments, the federal budget commitment for anti-smoking education has remained at a low $2m a year – despite the size and extent of the problem. Federal funding for tobacco control remains much lower than for other major health problems, and the per capita investment is much lower than in comparable OECD nations.” 

Health groups also point out that the FCTC comes into force at a time when tobacco companies are fighting harder than ever against moves to curb smoking, reduce harm and increase industry accountability.

Says Anne Jones: “We urge governments not to be deceived by the tobacco industry’s recent moves to reinvent itself as ‘socially responsible.’ These companies are actively opposing, delaying and weakening policies to better protect smokers and children from their deadly and lethal products.”

This is a joint media release by ASH, the National Heart Foundation of Australia and The Cancer Council Australia. 

Comment:

Anne Jones, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia    Ph. (02) 9334-1876;
m. 0417-227-879 

Maurice Swanson, National Heart Foundation of  Australia  m. 0414-922-902

Andrew Ellerman, The Cancer Council Australia   m. 0419-819-923

Media info:            Stafford Sanders            Ph. (02) 9334-1823      (m) 0412-070-194

Page last updated on 24/2/05