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AMA urges bipartisan support for schools smoking ban

AMA Victoria President Dr Mark Yates has welcomed state Opposition moves to include schools and school grounds in Victoria ’s latest smoking control reforms.

Dr Yates appealed for bipartisan support for the amendments to the Tobacco (Amendment) Bill when they are put to Parliament by Opposition health spokesman David Davis.

 “It is clear from the speeches given by Members from all parties that they are fully aware of the tragic and very costly effects of smoking on the health of Victorians and the importance of these restrictions on smoking and promotion of smoking to young people.

“I am sure Victoria ’s politicians were as surprised as doctors to learn that smoking was not banned on all school property. “

AMA Victoria highlighted the loophole in a letter to the Health Minister and a media release issued on 18 July this year.

“Guidelines, which School Councils may or may not apply as the basis for the development of policy, are just not a strong enough message to our young people,” Dr Yates said.

“Without this amendment, the legislation will ban smoking at under age music/dance events but leave young people to be exposed to smoking in schools, arguably the most influential environment of them all.

Dr Yates said there was ample evidence available to government of the strong behavioural influence teachers have on students.

“The government’s guidelines highlight the influence of role modelling by teachers on young people highlighting the importance of this legislation recognising this fact and removing the discretion for individual schools.

“There is no discretion when it comes to 40kph speed limits around schools today and nor should there be discretion regarding smoking in school grounds.

Dr Yates said the latest data1 gathered from Victorian schools indicated that each week about 62,000 Victorian students aged 12 – 17 years old smoked about 1.5 million cigarettes.

“While the data showed some welcome decrease in the percentage of boys and girls smoking, the numbers remain alarming.  The serious consequences for the health of each one of these children are indisputable.

 

“Some 5000 Victorians die each year from smoking-related illness and these children will be amongst those statistics in the future if we do not do everything possible to prevent them from taking up smoking and being exposed to the damaging effects of passive smoking.”

 1  The Cancer Council of Victoria Behavioural Research in cancer survey 2002.

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