AMA/ACOSH National Tobacco Scoreboard 2006 Awards

The Scoreboard allocates points to each State and Territory over a number of categories, including legislation, to track how effective each Government has been in combating smoking over the last 12 months.

With a score of 74 points, Queensland and Western Australia are joint winners for 2006.

The Northern Territory, with just 18 points out of a possible 100, is this year's most disappointing performer in tobacco control and has taken out the DIRTY ASHTRAY AWARD 2006.

Presenting the Awards at the AMA National Conference in Adelaide today, AMA President, Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, said both Western Australia and Queensland have done great things during the year.

"Both these States deserve equal praise for their commitment to tobacco control, and for following up their words with action," he said.

"Queensland has taken a comprehensive approach to restrictions on smoking, restricting tobacco marketing and proactively enforcing the new laws that came into effect at the beginning of 2005.

"Western Australia has introduced the most comprehensive tobacco control laws in the nation.

"The new, stronger WA legislation introduces a licensing scheme for tobacco wholesalers and retailers, with strong penalties for breaches."

Dr Haikerwal said he hopes the strong message sent out to Governments with these Awards, especially the Dirty Ashtray, will accelerate community efforts to stamp out smoking and, more importantly, encourage people to give up the killer habit.

"Too many Australians still smoke, and far too any Australian kids continue to take up smoking," Dr Haikerwal said.

"Doctors see the ugly and destructive effects of cigarette smoking on the human body every day. We want to see an end to the senseless waste of life and the erosion of quality of life caused by smoking and urge Governments to work with us in this quest."

2006 NATIONAL TOBACCO CONTROL SCOREBOARD SUMMARIES

(Compiled by ACOSH)

QUEENSLAND

Queensland has taken a comprehensive and integrated approach to restrictions on smoking in all sectors, including the hospitality sector. They have also scored very highly in steps taken to restrict tobacco marketing and a proactive approach to compliance and enforcement monitoring since their new laws came into force at the beginning of 2005.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The WA hospitality sector goes smokefree from this July. WA's strengthened legislation introduces a licensing scheme for tobacco wholesalers and retailers with strong penalties for breaches, including loss of licence to sell tobacco for traders who sell to minors.

VICTORIA

The Victorians come in at third. From 1 March 2006 the Victorians have prohibited smoking, the display of tobacco products and the sale of tobacco products at underage music/dance events. They have also put an end to smoking in covered areas of train station platforms, bus and tram stops. From 1 July 2007, smoking in enclosed licensed premises will in theory have ended. Regrettably, this measure has been undermined because the Victorians have followed the ACT's weak definition of enclosed areas.

TASMANIA

Tasmania has performed outstandingly well in protecting non-smokers. Tasmania is the first State to have smoke-free hotels and clubs, has also taken a strong stand on enforcement, and has also led the nation in requiring signage with graphic warnings at point of sale. It is very disappointing that Tasmania's rating has been brought down by a very poor level of investment in tobacco education and control and a low priority given to high risk population groups.

NEW SOUTH WALES

NSW again ranks fifth on the Scoreboard. The NSW Government deserves credit for increasing its funding for mass media campaigns. However, following initial tough talk it caved in to the hotels lobby and followed the ACT lead with a weak definition of enclosed areas. There is still a lot of huffing and puffing in NSW.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia also remains unchanged in its scoreboard position, at number six. They were the first to announce smoke-free hotels and clubs. However, but for the Northern Territory, South Australia will be the last to achieve this goal - they will not be smoke-free till October 2007. They deserve credit for funding some worthwhile initiatives, including tobacco control work in the mental health areas and several substantial Indigenous projects.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

The ACT is again a very disappointing performer. They have previously created a disastrous precedent for licensed premises by a very loose definition permitting smoking in any space that is 75% enclosed, and are now suffering the consequences. This definition, which permits smoking in what are essentially indoor areas, has been adopted by the two most populous States. The challenge for the ACT Government is now to find a remedy for the problem they have created.

The NORTHERN TERRITORY

Northern Territory is missing in action in some of the most important aspects of tobacco control. In five of the ten criteria for assessment out of ten it scored zero; this is unprecedented in the history of the ACOSH/AMA scoreboard. The NT now remains the only jurisdiction without an end date for smoking in hotels and clubs. They have the highest smoking prevalence, the worst performance and, it must be assumed, the least interest in protecting the health of their community.

COMMONWEALTH

The Commonwealth's performance is categorised under 'the good, the bad, and, the ugly' as follows:

The GOOD:

• New graphic health warnings are starting to appear on tobacco packs.

• Commitments to fund health promotion campaigns directed to young people and smoking in pregnancy.

• Continuing indexed increases in tobacco taxation.

• Ratified and supported the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, although could now take a more active role.

The BAD:

• Continuing failure to act on a Review of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act.

• ACCC a toothless tiger in negotiated settlement with the tobacco industry that still permits use of alternative misleading descriptors.

The UGLY:

• No regulation on the product itself.

• Weak controls on product information.

• No requirement for 'fire safe' cigarettes.

AMA/ACOSH National Tobacco Scoreboard Results 2006

	TAS	WA	VIC	NSW	QLD	SA	NT	ACT
Enclosed Public Places Policy	10	9	6	6	9	8	0	3
Outdoors Public Place	7	8	6	2	9	0	0	0
Smokefree Workplaces	9	8	7	5	9	7	5	5
Restrictions Tobacco marketing	9	9	7	5	9	4	7	5
Uptake	5	7	6	6	5	6	0	0
Cessation	5	7	8	7	7	7	2	2
High Risk	3	6	7	7	7	7	0	3
Enforcement	6	6	6	7	6	6	2	4
Investment	3	8	8	8	7	7	2	3
Donations	6	6	6	4	6	4	0	4
TOTAL	63	74	67	57	74	56	18	29