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“
Key
health group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia is stepping
up its statewide campaign to protect NSW bar and gaming workers and
patrons from harm caused by secondhand smoke in pubs and clubs. The
“Smokefree bars” campaign by ASH will mail directly to more than a
million households in the Sydney metropolitan area and will survey the
attitudes of candidates in forthcoming by-elections on the need to
place clean air as a public health priority ahead of gambling
interests. The
mailout is headed “Aussies behind bars face death penalty” * – a
reference to secondhand smoke being the largest single cause of
workplace-related death. “NSW
has fallen behind other states where smoking bans have been introduced
12 to 18 months ahead of NSW - and without the loopholes”, says ASH
CEO Anne Jones. The
smokefree venues campaign has the support of employee groups including
the ACTU, LHMU (hospitality workers’ union), Musicians’ Union and
MEAA (entertainers’ union) – all of which are partners with ASH in
the SmokeFree Australia coalition. All are concerned that a promise of
total indoor smoke bans in pubs and clubs is at risk of being watered
down to allow smoking in fake “outdoor” areas which are up to 75%
enclosed. Health
and employee groups want NSW leaders to catch up to other states –
such as Queensland and WA –
where smokefree policies come into effect in 2006 with smoking
restricted to genuinely outdoor, separated and un-serviced areas.
“The
present partial smoke bans are a shambles,” says ASH CEO Anne Jones.
“Another two years of partial bans will do little to protect workers
or the public. They undermine the OHS Act and leave WorkCover NSW
unable to consistently enforce legal obligations over safety. “We
are asking households to send our new leaders a clear message that
clean air and health rights of staff and patrons should be honoured
without delay and put ahead of the vested interests of the gambling
lobby”, said ASH. *
See the mailout at
www.ashaust.org.au/pdfs/FlyerA4BehBars.pdf Comment: Anne Jones, CEO, ASH Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1876 m. 0417-227-879 Comment
/ media info:
Stafford Sanders, ph. (02) 9334-1823
m. 0412-070-194
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Page last updated 31/8/05 |
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