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Victoria lagging behind on tobacco regulation
30 July 2008
Victoria is lagging behind on tobacco regulation said AMA Victoria President Dr Doug Travis today following the NSW Cabinet approval of its ‘Protecting Children from Tobacco’ package.
“New South Wales has made a huge leap forward and once again, Victoria is falling behind in protecting the community from the harms of tobacco,” Dr Travis said.
To catch-up on tobacco regulation legislation, AMA Victoria recommends:
· Licensing for tobacco vendors: Any business may sell tobacco in Victoria, without government scrutiny; this makes the enforcement of tobacco laws difficult and increases the opportunities for children to procure tobacco. AMA Victoria recommends that the Victorian Government consider a licensing fee for tobacco vendors as a new revenue measure that would both increase revenue and improve public health.
· Banning smoking in cars carrying children. The effects of passive smoking are harmful, especially to children, and that harm increases when the child is in a confined space such as a car. Victoria should follow the lead of Tasmania, Queensland and South Australia and ban smoking in cars with children.
· Banning smoking in work vehicles. Staff need clean, safe working environments. This includes a smoke-free environment. While most Australian workplaces are now smoke-free, vehicles are not defined as a workplace in smoking legislation. This anomaly means that some workers will still be exposed to second-hand smoke, risking their health. The only way to protect workers’ health is to ban smoking in all workplaces, including work vehicles.
· Banning smoking on school grounds and on health facility campuses. Smoking is banned in most workplaces and public transport, but there is no legislation to protect children on school grounds or patients and staff outside health facilities such as hospitals.
· Banning smoking in casino high roller rooms. There is no data that suggests that high stakes gamblers are any less susceptible to the health effects from smoking, nor the staff that serve these gamblers. There is no good reason for existing exemptions to certain entertainment venues.
· Restricting point of sale advertising. Point-of-sale displays normalise smoking and are the key remaining advertising avenue for tobacco companies. Storing tobacco out of sight will prevent people, in particular children, from being able to see tobacco.
“I hope these problems are addressed in the government’s upcoming Tobacco Control Strategy,” Dr Travis said.
“Smoking is still the largest single cause of preventable, premature death and disease among Australians. Victoria should be at the forefront of new tobacco measures.”
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