And the winner is...
AMA/ACOSH National Tobacco Scoreboard 2001
Tasmania has jumped the field to win this year's AMA/ACOSH (Australian Council on Smoking and Health) National Tobacco Scoreboard with a score of 66 points.
Heading a tight race for second, Victoria scored 59 points, just beating NSW and Western Australia, which tied for third on 58 points. Queensland (57), ACT (56) and South Australia (49) followed.
The Northern Territory (41) receives the 2001 Dirty Ashtray Award. However there has been a significant improvement in outlook in the Northern Territory and the judges have acknowledged this by also awarding the NT this year's Encouragement Award.
At an awards ceremony at the Sheraton Towers Southgate in Melbourne today, AMA Federal President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said there had been significant improvements in Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria, but other states had not progressed at the same rates.
"Tasmania scored very well in the categories of Enclosed Public Places Policy, Point of Sales Advertising Restrictions, Workplaces and Government Commitment. Its legislative changes in the past 12 months (smoking bans in all public places including workplaces due to commence in September 2001, partial bans in bars and total bans in all eating venues) take it to the forefront of Tobacco Control in Australia," Dr Phelps said.
"It now boasts comprehensive policies towards smoking in public places (both outdoors and indoors), a strong approach to protecting workers from passive smoking and a vigilant approach to tobacco industry accountability.
"The ground does appear to be shifting in the Northern Territory. Although it once again has secured the 2001 Dirty Ashtray Award, there are signs that change may be on the way.
"NT continues its good work in education and addressing smoking in Aboriginal communities. With the possibility of further improvement, the NT is the one to watch and for this reason also receives the 2001 Encouragement Award."
Dr Phelps said 18 judges from a host of organisations - heart and cancer foundations, anti-cancer groups, Action on Smoking and Health, the Quit organisation and ACOSH - had compiled the AMA/ACOSH National Tobacco Scoreboard 2001 with judging already underway for next year's scoreboard.
"The scoreboard is a great opportunity to draw attention to the progress being made in tobacco control. We compare the performances of state and territory governments, we applaud governments that are leading the way and point out the ones who are lagging behind.
"The ultimate aim of the initiative is to be able to acknowledge that all states and
territories have acted as much as possible to protect the public from the effects of smoking, reduce the likelihood of young people taking up smoking and be fearless in confronting tobacco companies for the damage they are inflicting," Dr Phelps said.
The AMA/ACOSH Scoreboard has been running since 1994.
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AMA CONTACTS: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 (0419) 494 761
Sarah Bucknell (02) 6270 5472 (0419) 440 076
ACOSH: Director Ron Edwards (0408) 925 805___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AMA / ACOSH Tobacco Scoreboard
ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | |
Enclosed public places Policy | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
Outdoor public places policy | 6 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
Workplaces | 6 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 7 |
Point of Sale advertising restrictions | 9 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
Expenditure on tobacco control | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
Addressing Aboriginal smoking | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
Enforcement of existing laws | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Regulation of nicotine | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Mandatory School Education | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
Industry Accountability | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
Government commitment | 7 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
TOTAL | 56 | 58 | 41 | 57 | 49 | 66 | 59 | 58 |
RANKING | 6th | 3rd | 8th | 5th | 7th | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
SUMMARIES FOR EACH STATE / TERRITORY
Tasmania's legislative changes in the last twelve months take it to the forefront of Tobacco Control in Australia. It now boasts comprehensive policies towards smoking in public places (both outdoors and indoors), a strong approach to protecting workers from passive smoking and a vigilant approach to tobacco industry accountability. However, there are still shortcomings in school education and tobacco control expenditure that need to be addressed to maintain this progress.
Victoria can look forward to the implementation of restrictions on smoking in dining areas. Positive legislative change and improved levels of anti-smoking funding are not yet matched by strong enforcement measures and keeping the tobacco industry accountable. Also needed are tighter restrictions at the point of sale and initiatives to address smoking in Aboriginal communities. Victoria's score was boosted by the willingness of Attorney General Rob Hulls to consider legal action against tobacco companies for recovery of health costs.
NSW has finished strongly due to the achievement of a smokefree Olympic Games and its willingness to enforce its regulations with fines and prosecutions. However, there is still ground to be made and NSW needs to follow talk with action, especially in the workplace and industry accountability.
Western Australia's successful introduction of smokefree dining areas and willingness to allocate resources to smoking issues, particularly to address smoking in Aboriginal communities, has ensured a strong result for last year's winner. However, its performance is slightly inconsistent, with shortcomings on point of sale issues, industry accountability and addressing risks faced by hospitality workers due to passive smoking.
Once a pacesetter, the Australian Capital Territory has been overtaken by other states. Its Enclosed Public Places legislation, introduced in 1994, now seems dated. Some progress was made with Bruce Stadium becoming smokefree and the ACT excels in enforcement of legislation and restrictions at the point of sale. As with NSW, talk needs to be followed with action.
QLD has gained considerable ground, as it did in the 2000 Scoreboard. Legislation currently before the Queensland Parliament promises to be a big step in the areas of Enclosed Public Places and restrictions at the point of sale. Improved levels of expenditure have matched this increased commitment and Queensland continues its excellent work in addressing smoking in Aboriginal communities. However, it will be crucial to follow the legislation with effective enforcement measures and a decisive approach to outdoor public areas.
Despite a commendable level of expenditure to address smoking and a generally positive approach, South Australia seems to have stalled in areas in which other states are rapidly progressing. Its expenditure is not matched by legislative measures. An expansion of smoking restrictions in public areas, both indoors and outdoors, might bring South Australia in line with other states. A particular concern is the continuing risk posed by passive smoking to many South Australian workers, especially in the hospitality industry.
The ground appears to be shifting in the Northern Territory! Although it once again has secured the 2001 DIRTY ASHTRAY AWARD, there are signs that change might be on its way.
Last year the NT finished 23 points behind the next government; this year it is less than ten points in arrears. Largely this is due to signs that it is moving forward in important areas of Tobacco Control. NT continues its good work in education and addressing smoking in Aboriginal communities. With the possibility of further improvement, the NT is the one to watch and for this reason receives the 2001 ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD.