AMA/ACOSH National Tobacco Scoreboard 2003 - Northern Territory the best at combatting smoking in 2002-03

The AMA/ACOSH (Australian Council on Smoking and Health) Tobacco Scoreboard ranks the legislative and public efforts of State and Territory Governments to stop Australians smoking.

Despite being tagged 'Most Promising Performer' a year ago, the Northern Territory was still performing poorly enough to run last and win the feared Dirty Ashtray Award in 2002.

During 2002-03, a raft of initiatives has propelled NT to the top of the tobacco control table with 52 points - which included two bonus points for making the most significant changes in the least amount of time.

In second place on 50 points were Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. They were followed by South Australia (43 points), ACT (40 points), and Tasmania (38 points). (See State Summaries - attached)

Being acknowledged as the Most Disappointing State in 2002, Queensland has gone further backwards in anti-tobacco action to finish last on 36 points and takes out the DIRTY ASHTRAY AWARD for 2003.

At an awards ceremony in Sydney today, AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said the Northern Territory had demonstrated remarkable leadership in legislating tobacco control measures in 2002-03.

"The Northern Territory Government's comprehensive regulations on Smoking in Enclosed Public Places, restrictions on Tobacco Promotion, and initiatives with a Young Prevention campaign have pushed it well ahead of the other States and Territories," Dr Phelps said.

"The AMA and ACOSH congratulate the Northern Territory for its outstanding efforts to stop Australians, particularly young Australians, smoking.

"Despite coming last this year, Queensland must be commended for developing programs for Indigenous Australians and researching specific health concerns for women and smoking.

"This will inspire them to do better next year.

"Smoking kills and it lowers the quality of life for many Australians.

"Our work with the Tobacco Scoreboard is designed to motivate our Governments to do more to stop people starting or continuing with this disgusting habit.

"The States and Territories are all doing their bit. We just want them to do more and faster," Dr Phelps said.

The AMA/ACOSH Scoreboard has been running since 1994.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Tobacco Atlas:

• Of everyone alive today 500 million will eventually be killed by tobacco

• Cigarettes kill half of all lifetime users, with half dying in middle age

• Fifty percent of young people who continue to smoke will die from smoking

• Every cigarette takes seven minutes off your life

• Smoking is responsible for 90 per cent of all lung cancer

• Smoking costs the Australian economy $6 billion each year.

ACOSH estimates the cost of smoking to the Australian economy closer to $21 billion each year.

CONTACTS: Judith Tokley, AMA (0408) 824 306

AMA NT: President Dr Paul Bauert (0418) 277 004

AMA Queensland: President Dr Ingrid Tall (0419) 735 641

ACOSH: Mr Stephen Hall (08) 9212 4309, (0408) 426 263

QUIT Victoria: Zoe Furman (0408) 176 934