[Greens-Media] ACT Government puts health last

[Manderson, Roland]

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey Media Release

9 March 2005

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ACT Government puts health last
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ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey described as astonishing the Government's failure to make public health the priority for smoking regulations.

The ACT Government today refused to support a Greens motion calling for it to
	*	take a precautionary approach
	*	make the health of workers and patrons a priority
	*	ensure that risk to the public is a primary consideration
	*	be guided by its own analysis on the matter
	*	is consistent with national OH & S Commission recommendations 
	*	ensure pokie players lose touch with their machines when they smoke

in drafting a regulation to permit smoking in public places.

"I find it astonishing that the Government's not prepared to make public health the primary consideration when it drafts smoking regulations" Dr Foskey said today. 

"In opposing the substance of this motion the Health Minister could offer no health evidence to support his preferred model, which will allow smoking in rooms that are up to 75% enclosed."  

The Greens motion was supported by the Cancer Council of the ACT, the ACT AMA, the Heart Foundation ACT Division and the Smokefree Australia Coalition which includes the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union, Musicians' Union of Australia, and Action on Smoking and Health Australia (ASH).

"The ACT Government has conceded that the 75% rule is not based on any scientific evidence. It appears, in fact, to have been chosen as a matter of convenience. On ABC radio this morning the Minister conceded we were heading for a much more rigorous approach in the future."

"The 75% rule is not only setting a poor precedent nationally, it is damning the clubs and hotels to more years of uncertainty" Dr Foskey said.




================================
Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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