e-Cigarettes

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse. Can the minister inform the house how the Select Committee on E-Cigarettes' report can contribute to South Australia's smoking reduction efforts?

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS (Taylor—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse) (14:37): I thank the member for her question and know that she has a deep interest in the matters of tobacco and alcohol control in our state. Tobacco remains one of the greatest single risk factors to the disease burden in Australia. In fact, in South Australia there are approximately 1,140 tobacco-attributable deaths each year.

The South Australian government supports policies that will reduce the prevalence of smoking and its related harms to the South Australian community. Research from the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute has found that 81.3 per cent of the South Australian population reported that they had heard of e-cigarettes and 1.2 per cent of the population were current users of e-cigarettes.

The tabling of this report comes at a time when smoking rates are on the decline in South Australia. Recent figures have shown a reduction in smoking rates in South Australia from 19.4 per cent in 2013 to 15.7 per cent in 2014. This is the lowest on record. I am particularly pleased to note that daily smoking rates in northern Adelaide, where I have my electorate, have been declining steadily from 17.5 per cent in 2012 to 13.9 per cent in 2014. I know my northern suburb MPs would be pleased with this as well.

Work has begun on the development of the next South Australian Tobacco Control Strategy and, from 1 July this year, South Australia's smoking outdoor dining legislation comes into effect, after a good deal of consultation. The South Australian government takes an evidence-based approach to policies, and we will work to reduce the harm that tobacco and smoking causes for all South Australians.

I welcome the report of the Select Committee on E-Cigarettes, and the South Australian government will consider its report and recommendations carefully. I acknowledge the efforts of the Select Committee on E-Cigarettes, particularly the Chair, the member for Elder, and members who are on the committee: the members for Fisher, Kaurna, Bright and Hartley, although I note the member for Hartley has a divergent opinion. I wonder if he has received any tobacco money.

Members interjecting:

Mr TARZIA: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: I won't take the point of order. I will simply ask—

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS: I withdraw.

The SPEAKER: —the minister to withdraw and apologise.

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS: I withdraw and apologise, but I do note the Liberal Party does have a policy of accepting tobacco money, I am led to believe.

Mr Pisoni: You were asked to withdraw and apologise, not to give a spontaneous speech.

The SPEAKER: I call the minister to order and I warn her for the first and second time for not making an unreserved apology and making an impromptu speech at the end of the same.

The Hon. L.A. VLAHOS: I make an unreserved apology, Mr Speaker.