Smoking: health minister urges Australians to quit
4 June 2001
Smoking was in the spotlight again last week with World No Tobacco Day being used to highlight the dangers of cigarettes.
Federal Health Minister Michael Wooldridge urged Australian smokers to kick the habit to mark World No Tobacco Day. He said smoking remains the single largest cause of preventable death and disease in Australia, with more than 18,000 Australians dying every year of smoking-related illnesses.
‘Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease as well as a range of other cancers, diseases and conditions,’ Dr Wooldridge said.
‘Tobacco use costs the Australian community at least $12.7 billion in direct costs a year.’
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) used the day to call on members of the public to patronise only totally smoke-free restaurants, pubs and clubs, saying that there was now widespread support for smoke-free venues.
‘Scientific evidence shows clearly that breathing air polluted by tobacco smoke can increase your chances of contracting bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema, developing lung cancer, suffering asthma attacks, as well as cardiovascular disease,’ said AMA Federal Vice-President Dr Trevor Mudge.
‘Legislation outlawing smoking in all public places is the policy goal we must pursue. Simply separating smokers from non-smokers within the same air space may reduce, but does not eliminate, the exposure of non-smokers to environmental tobacco smoke.’
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has expressed alarm at the fact that nearly one third of 16-17 year old Australians are smokers.
The Treasurer of the RACGP’s Victorian branch, Dr David Farmer, said: ‘Despite the major government initiatives in tobacco reform over the past 30 years, under-age teenagers are still illegally purchasing cigarettes.
‘There is now evidence to show that 80 per cent of new smokers are under-age.’
The RACGP has called for more vigilance in punishing retailers selling tobacco to under-age teenagers and for government-funded national mass media campaigns focusing on preventing teenagers from taking up smoking.
Last Reviewed: 04 June 2001
