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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-11-24 Daily Xml
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PRISONS, SMOKING

The Hon. R.B. SUCH (Fisher) (12:15): I move:

That this house calls on the state government to follow the lead of the Northern Territory government and phase out smoking in South Australian prisons.

Since putting this together, I have received some detailed material from the government and have become aware, in detail, what their proposal is. So, I understand the government will seek to amend this and I am not unhappy with that.

Just quickly, the Northern Territory have indicated that they will be banning smoking in all territory prisons from 1 July 2013. We know that cigarettes are often used in prisons for bartering and as an incentive for good behaviour, but it is important that we do not allow, or continue to allow, prisoners to put their own lives at risk and, even more importantly, the lives of those who might have to share a cell with them.

I have had contact from some prisoners who say they have to share a cell with a smoker and I think that is an infringement of their rights. I think the government leaves itself open to legal action if a prisoner could show that they were subjected to passive smoking as a result of being in a cell with someone who was a smoker.

I try to encourage members in here who I know smoke, to give it up. It is a horrible death if it is followed through—often emphysema, lung cancer or some other nasty thing. People drown in their own fluid. It is a horrible way to go. My father died that way. He was encouraged to smoke when he was in the navy. Even knowing that prisoners have issues like boredom and so on and they barter with cigarettes, we need to support them to help them give up smoking because their health is as important as anyone else's in the community.

The information I had was that the government here is going to ban smoking indoors in gaols by March 2015, but I understand that it will still be 2015, but a different month, and I am quite happy about that. So, I commend this motion. I am pleased and congratulate the state government for moving down this path.

Obviously, these things have to be introduced gradually and you have to accompany the withdrawal of tobacco with various measures to help people get off the addiction. I am sure the government will be able to do that, ably assisted by the Health Commission, to ensure that people in our prisons are not subject to their own or anyone else's smoke. I commend this motion to the house.

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (12:18): By leave, I move to amend the honourable member's motion today. The new motion would read:

That this house acknowledges the state government has committed to phasing out smoking in all government premises, including prisons, by 31 May 2015.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Do you wish to speak to it, member for Mitchell?

Mr SIBBONS: Yes, I would not mind.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: That's fine.

Mr SIBBONS: The member for Ashford was just trying to give me some counsel.

Members interjecting:

Mr SIBBONS: Yes, I must listen to the member for Ashford—a very wise, very experienced member. It was announced earlier this year on World No Tobacco Day that the state government is working towards making all government premises, including new prison buildings, smoke free by 31 May 2015. On this same day, the chief executive of the Department for Correctional Services announced his commitment to achieving a smoke-free environment in all prison buildings within the same time frame.

The current no-smoking policy in government buildings includes prison buildings and indoor visitor centres. The only exception is that prisoners are permitted to smoke within their cells, which are considered to be their homes, with the cell doors closed. Staff currently have dedicated areas where they are permitted to smoke. A program is currently in place at all South Australian government-run prisons for prisoners who wish to quit smoking to access nicotine replacement therapy and the Quit program. The program in its current format has been running for 12 months and has been well received. The program was initially piloted in 2012 at the Cadell Training Centre and was rolled out to all sites by May 2011.

Since this time, a total of 39 prisoners have completed the program and are now nonsmokers. Other prisoners are in various stages of completion of the program, and significant input from clinical staff may be required to ensure that the program participants remain focused and committed. Quit SA has recently acknowledged the hard work, dedication and effort of South Australian Prison Health Service nursing staff in their commitment to ensure that participants quit smoking.

SA Health is implementing the Do It for Life program in a number of prisons. This program is specifically targeted at Indigenous Australians to address areas of health risk, particularly smoking. Additionally, the Adelaide Women's Prison and Port Augusta Prison have introduced prison peer support programs which will enable prisoners who quit smoking to access peer support from prisoners who have been provided with accredited training.

Dedicated nursing staff at all sites have been trained through Quit SA to counsel and support prisoners with nicotine dependence who are committed to stopping smoking. The Department for Correctional Services has worked collaboratively with the prison health service to promote quit smoking programs. Prisoners who commence the program have free access to the Quit hotline. All efforts have been made to accommodate the needs of nonsmokers and to reduce their exposure to passive cigarette smoke. All health centres and clinics within the correctional environment are smoke free, in line with SA Health's smoke-free policy.

The ability to ensure a smoke-free environment within the prison setting will be challenging and will be managed through a coordinated approach to ensure that the risks to both prisoners and staff are reduced. Nicotine replacement therapy is only one small part in the challenge to quit smoking, and resources will need to continue to be available at all prison sites to assist with counselling and support.

Prisoners will need access to contemporary quit smoking programs to achieve success. The Department for Correctional Services and the South Australian Prison Health Service are already working together to achieve a smoke-free environment within South Australian prisons by 31 May 2015. Assistance to quit smoking will continue to be offered to prisoners and staff throughout the reduction implementation strategy. I recommend that the honourable member's motion be amended to reflect this.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Pederick.

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