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Smoke-Free WA

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New era of tobacco control for WA with the passing of the

Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill

The Cancer Council WA in conjunction with other peak public health organisations campaigned in support of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act 2009 throughout late 2008 and 2009, until it was passed by the Western Australian Parliament on 16 September.

The Bill was tabled in the Legislative Assembly by the Independent Member for Alfred Cove, Dr. Janet Woollard, in November 2008. The purpose of the Bill was to amend the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 to;

  • prohibit smoking in cars if a young person is present
  • prohibit the display of tobacco products at point of sale
  • prohibit smoking in al fresco areas, outdoor playing areas and safe swimming areas

Royal Assent for the Bill was granted by His Excellency the Governor on 22 September 2009, with the Act to become operational 12 months after this date.

This landmark legislation puts the interests of public health over and above those of the tobacco industry. The health of Western Australians will be improved as a result of the new laws due to an expected fall in smoking rates along with a reduction in exposure to second-hand smoke.

The Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act 2009 introduces a raft of measures that we believe will yield significant public health and economic benefits in years to come. We are in no doubt that they will be warmly welcomed by the majority of West Australians.

Now that this legislation has been passed, it is critical that the government ensures it is effectively implemented and enforced. Leading non-government organisations including the Cancer Council WA will continue to monitor progress on the introduction of these new laws.

 

Cancer Council WA’s campaign for a smoke-free WA

It was with great anticipation that we welcomed the Private Member’s Bill in 2008. The Cancer Council WA is proud to have played an important role in advocating for the passage of some of the toughest anti-tobacco laws in the country.

For many months prior to the introduction of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill into the WA Parliament, the Cancer Council WA together with other peak non-government health organisations had been campaigning strongly for a ‘Smoke-Free WA’. This entailed lobbying local governments to consider changes to local by-laws which would see an extension of smoking bans in council areas and opinion pieces in community newspapers encouraging local communities to get behind the campaign. Many local councils, including the Cities of Fremantle, Rockingham and Joondalup, had taken positive steps for the health and well-being of their communities by reducing exposure to second-hand smoke.

The Cancer Council WA’s advocacy efforts in support of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2008 included:

  • Supportive media statements to coincide with the introduction of the Bill, at strategic times throughout its progress and finally, to congratulate Dr Janet Woollard and all parliamentarians on its successful passage through parliament.
  • Provision of written and verbal evidence on the adequacy of measures outlined in the Bill to the Education and Health Standing Committee's Inquiry into the legislation in January and February 2009.
  • Letters to all Members of Parliament urging their support of the Bill, sometimes jointly with other leading health groups: the Australian Medical Association (WA Branch); National Heart Foundation (WA); Diabetes WA; Asthma Foundation of WA; Australian Council on Smoking and Health; Telethon Institute for Child Health Research; Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA; Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer Control; Public Health Association of Australia (WA); and WHO Collaborating Centre for Research on Children’s Environmental Health.
  • Encouraging members of the Western Australian community to get involved in advocacy around the Bill via the Cancer Council WA website and at the March 2009 Perth Relay for Life event, where volunteers gathered close to 1,000 signatures on a petition in support of the new legislation which was later tabled in Parliament.

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