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Let’s match words with action to truly clear the air

| November 25, 2011
Since Australian laws banning smoking indoors came into effect we have enjoyed the benefits of clean air as we eat, work and play. Public demand for extending the same policies to outdoor public spaces has been increasing, but Anita Tang from Cancer Council NSW, asks why New South Wales has been slow to act.
 
On a wet Thursday evening this week, over 60 people chose to attend a 30 minute discussion in NSW Parliament rather than head home for dinner with their family, attend the Christmas celebrations in the city or catch up on their late night shopping.

Why? What was the attraction in Parliament that evening?

MPs were meeting in the house to discuss the People’s Petition for smoke-free outdoor area laws. The public gallery in Parliament was packed with representatives from health groups and community members concerned about health and wellbeing, many of whom had been active in collecting over 11,000 signatures for the People’s Petition.

During the Parliamentary discussion about the petition, those of us in the gallery heard many very heartening words from the Minister for Health, the Shadow Health Minister, and MPs representing the electorates of Tamworth, Newcastle, Bankstown, and Balmain.

It is clear that the Government and MPs from all parties understand the dangers of second-hand smoke, quoting international studies and scientific bodies. It is clear that the Government and MPs from all parties know there is strong community support for smoke-free areas and that local Councils and other states have demonstrated its feasibility. It is clear that all sides of Parliament want to reduce smoking rates and protect people from the harms of tobacco.

So far so good – Parliament and health groups agree on the harm, the community expectations and on the feasibility of creating smoke-free outdoor areas. Sharing the same understanding of the science and the data and reciting the same facts is a very good start to agreeing on a solution and action. Even better, all the speakers proudly spoke of their track record in tobacco reforms and public health and their determination to do more to reduce the harms from smoking.

It would seem that the Government, the health groups and the community all want the same thing. And it is clear that if the Government introduced legislation into Parliament for smoke-free outdoor areas, it would be strongly supported by the ALP and the Greens.

If that much is clear and agreed, why is there no Government action to match the words? In noting that other States and Territories have already legislated for smoke-free outdoor areas such as alfresco dining and children’s playgrounds, the best the Minister could offer was that the Government is ‘monitoring the progress of those reforms, reviewing the evidence and listening to all sectors of the community about this issue’. Another Government MP, Tim Owen referred to the need to consult with ‘key stakeholders’ including Clubs NSW while acknowledging the need to consider making new public places smoke free in line with changing community expectations and evidence. The Opposition and the Greens urged the Government to exercise courage and moral leadership on this issue, noting that the tobacco industry and its allies would be the only groups objecting to protecting people from second hand smoke and would lobby strongly against any legislation.

All the words from the Government on the issue of tobacco have been very heartening. It seems that we are all in agreement on the facts and the need for action. Now it is time to match the words with action – and clear the air in NSW.
 

 
Anita Tang has been at Cancer Council NSW since July 2002 and is currently the Manager Policy and Advocacy. During this time, her responsibilities have included cancer prevention programs and advocacy for government action to reduce the impact and incidence of cancer. She has also had a number of national roles including leadership of the Tobacco Issues Committee, and now the Bowel Cancer Screening Committee of Cancer Council Australia. Anita has extensive experience across social issues, through advocacy, review, service development, and policy roles. She has a Bachelor of Arts, and a Masters in Administrative Law and Policy, both from the University of Sydney. In 2007 she was awarded a Fellowship for the Stanford University Executive Program for Nonprofit leaders. She is passionate about issues affecting people who do not have a voice, and holding governments accountable for programs and policies that serve disadvantaged groups.
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