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AMA presents tobacco prize to Victoria
AMA Victoria President, Mukesh Haikerwal, handed over the first prize in the AMA/ACOSH National Tobacco Scoreboard to Victorian Minister for Health, John Thwaites, today.
Victoria topped the scoreboard for the first time since the award’s inception in 1995. It came second last year, and won an encouragement award in 2000.
Dr Haikerwal said the recent ban on smoking in gaming venues and increased restrictions on point-of-sale advertising had nudged Victoria into first place.
"I’m extremely pleased to be able to present Mr Thwaites with the award today to publicly recognise the Government’s great efforts in turning around the tobacco control situation in Victoria. This is a great public health improvement" Dr Haikerwal said.
"Victoria had gone from being a leader in tobacco control to being a follower. The current Government has brought us back to the forefront with its bans on smoking in restaurants and now gaming venues. Once it effects bans in all remaining public places, Victoria will truly be a world leader in tobacco control.
"The other Victorians who need to be acknowledged with the presentation of this award are the tireless campaigners working at Quit Victoria, VicHealth, the Cancer Council, the Heart Foundation, Asthma Victoria and the AMA in Victoria. These groups have developed an effective co-operative working relationship which has helped our State to achieve the top spot on the scoreboard.
"The Government, State Opposition and independents are also to be congratulated for providing bipartisan support for these important public health initiatives.
"There are many opportunities left to ensure we stay at top place on the scoreboard: extending the smoking bans to all enclosed public places and workplaces, continuing well-funded mass media campaigns to educate the public about smoking cessation, increased funding for tobacco dependence treatments and restricting the availability of cigarettes through increased cost," Dr Haikerwal said.
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