A.C.T. should hasten progressive smoking ban laws

In welcoming the move, Dr Haikerwal urged the ACT Government to implement the ban at the earliest opportunity and not wait until 2006.

"The Assembly should ignore the hotel industry's rhetoric on the economic impact of the bans," Dr Haikerwal said.

"The suggestion that the legislation could lead to a 25 per cent job loss in the industry, as reported in today's Canberra Times, cannot be substantiated.

"International research shows that bars in California did not suffer economically after their laws changed.

"In Australia, the VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control looked at almost 100 studies into the economic impact of smoke free policies on the hospitality industry. Of these, only 21 were properly designed using objective data. None found that smoke-free restaurant and bar laws led to job losses or lower profits. Some found business actually improved once venues were free of smoke," Dr Haikerwal said.

Dr Haikerwal said the case to ban smoking is conclusive:

Passive or involuntary smoking involves inhaling cancer-causing substances, as well as other toxic components in secondhand tobacco smoke.

• More than 50 studies of involuntary smoking and lung cancer risk in people who have never smoked, especially spouses of smokers, show that passive smoking causes lung cancer in people who have never smoked. 
• Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke causes coronary heart disease and increases the risk of acute heart disease by 25-35 per cent, and causes respiratory illness.
• A recent article on the tobacco industry's manipulation of the hospitality industry said 'the tobacco industry works to stay out of the public spotlight during any debates over tobacco control policies because of its low credibility. In recent years, the tobacco industry has effectively turned the hospitality industry into its de facto lobbying arm on clean indoor air'. (Tobacco Control 2002; 11:94-104; 'Tobacco Industry Manipulation of the Hospitality Industry to Maintain Smoking in Public Places' JV Dearlove).

"Workers have a right to a clean, safe working environment. This means a smoke-free environment. The only way to protect workers' and patrons' health is to ban smoking in all workplaces.

"The AMA is committed to working towards a total indoor smoking ban across Australia - well before 2006," Dr Haikerwal said.

Dr Haikerwal this week represented the AMA at the launch of a nation wide advertising campaign calling for smokefree pubs and clubs.

CONTACT:     John Flannery   (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761

                   Judith Tokley    (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306