ASH Australia media release                                        March 8, 2005

ACT Survey: 
No support for pseudo-smokefree areas 

Residents reject partly-enclosed smoking rooms

“

The National Heart Foundation is today releasing results of a survey which has found overwhelming community opposition to the Government’s proposed approach to ‘enclosed’ public places.

The Heart Foundation, which commissioned the survey, is joining with other health groups to urge the ACT Government to rethink its approach to allowing smoking in public areas which are up to 74.9% enclosed.  Such areas are expected to be built by restaurants, pubs and clubs if the Government proceeds with new legislation. 

The Orima Research survey of ACT residents aged 18 and over, commissioned by the National Heart Foundation of Australia, found that:

• 84% of those surveyed thought that it was not acceptable for smoking to be permitted in public places that are up to 74.9% enclosed by walls, and a roof or ceiling;

• more than 8 in 10 people support smoking being allowed only in public spaces that are fully open - without walls or roof;

• fewer  than 3 in 10 support smoking being allowed in rooms which are 50% enclosed;

• fewer than 1 in 10 support smoking being allowed in rooms which are 70% or more enclosed; and

• a majority of smokers - for whom these areas would be provided - believe that smoking should be allowed only in fully open areas.

According to Eileen Jerga, Chief Executive of the Heart Foundation ACT Division:
“These results show overwhelming support for smokefree places to be exactly what they say: fully smokefree. The ACT community’s expectations are reasonable – they’ve been led to believe that when the present smokefree exemptions finish at the end of 2006, smoking will not be allowed in enclosed areas. Hardly anyone - not even smokers - accepts that areas more than 70% enclosed should be defined as ‘unenclosed’ and smoking allowed in them”.

“The community doesn’t want one set of exemptions to be replaced by another set of rules which continue to endanger staff and patrons. Health groups have advised the Government that a 75-25 arrangement would not be sustainable over the long term, and the level of community feeling means that it’s not even sustainable as a short-term measure. 

Anne Jones of Action on Smoking and Health added:  “Public health cannot be properly protected by allowing smoking in areas up to 74.9% enclosed. The Heart Foundation and other health groups are calling on the ACT Government to respond to these very strong views of the people of Canberra.”

Survey summary at www.ashaust.org.au/SF’03/files/ACTsurvey0502.doc
and key findings at www.ashaust.org.au/SF’03/files/ACTkeyfinds0502.doc

This is a joint media release by the National Heart Foundation of Australia and Action on Smoking and Health Australia

Contact:

Eileen Jerga AM, Chief Executive Officer,  Heart Foundation ACT Division    
Ph. 0412-988-955 or (02) 6282-5744                                                                                

Anne Jones, Chief Executive, ASH Australia       Ph. 0417-227-879

Media enquiries:     Stafford Sanders            ph. (02) 9334-1823;  m. 0412-070-194 

Page last updated 8/3/05