Some Way To Go Before The Act Can 'Breathe Easy', Australian Medical Association

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 03 Jun 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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AMA ACT President, Dr Paul Jones, expressed concern that the ACT has been left behind on tobacco reform.

The ACT has been placed well behind all States and only performed better than the Northern Territory on the 2008 Tobacco Scoreboard. The AMA/ACOSH Tobacco Scoreboard was announced today at the annual National Conference of the Australian Medical Association and reports on the efforts of the States and Territories in tobacco reform.

"While recognising and applauding ACT Government initiatives which have been made, such as banning of smoking from Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval seating areas, the ACT has some way to go before it can match the benchmarks of winners Queensland and Western Australia," Dr Jones said.

"We continue to score poorly in the areas of Enclosed Public Places policy, Outdoor Public places, Smoke-free workplaces and Restrictions on Tobacco Marketing.

"The so-called 75% rule continues to undermine the effect of legislation banning smoking in enclosed public places.

"The health effects of smoking are well known and have a personal and financial impact on society.

"The AMA offers support to the government and encourages it to fast track its legislative reform agenda to prohibit smoking in outdoor public areas and smoking in cars with kids, so that we can all "breathe easy," Dr Jones said.

Australian Medical Association

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