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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-05-30 Daily Xml
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NATIONAL TOBACCO SCOREBOARD

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:21): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Can the minister inform the house about the results of the 2012 National Tobacco Scoreboard?

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (14:22): I thank the member for Light (an appropriately named electorate given the topic I am about to discuss) for his question. I am very pleased to inform the house that South Australia has taken out top honours on the Australian Medical Association's National Tobacco Scoreboard for its tobacco control legislation investment in reducing smoking-related harm. I thank the opposition which supported the legislation as it went through the house.

In 2009-10 this state received the Dirty Ashtray Award, which means we came bottom of the pack, if I can use that expression. I said to my department when I took over that part of the agency, 'What can we do to turn this around?' I said, 'It would be good to get to number one, but if we can get close to that it would be good.' I would like to thank DASSA, the part of the agency that looks after this, for the huge efforts and great advice they gave which has made sure that we are number one in terms of control of tobacco in Australia.

AMA President, Dr Steve Hambleton, said South Australia has made outstanding progress in recent years and merits high commendation for improvements in tobacco control legislation and investment. He further said that the South Australian government deserves praise for its commitment to tobacco control and for following up its words with action. Yet another AMA president praising the South Australia government; I just love it.

The government continues to work hard to further reduce smoking rates and to introduce more smoke-free environments. New measures taking effect from tomorrow, World No Tobacco Day, will protect people from exposure to tobacco smoke under all covered public transport waiting areas and within 10 metres of children's playground equipment. The latter will protect children and also help to reduce the likelihood that children will perceive smoking as a normal activity. We hope this will mean that fewer young people will take up smoking.

Local councils and other incorporated bodies will be able to apply to have outdoor areas or events declared smoke-free from tomorrow. Already the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society of this state has applied to declare this year's Royal Adelaide Show smoke-free which is an extraordinary request. I am delighted they have done that given the number of people who go through the show. There has been interest from a number of local councils and other organisations about introducing smoke-free areas and events. So right across the community people are taking up this initiative.

I am also delighted that other organisations are taking it upon themselves to encourage smoke-free environments. This morning I awarded Harbour Town Adelaide a Smoke-Free Air Award for excellence in leadership and innovation for creating the first smoke-free outdoor shopping precinct in Adelaide. They did that of their own initiative, and I praise them.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: A West Torrens first.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: A West Torrens first. I also awarded the Adelaide City Council the Smoke-Free Air Award for Excellence in the Provision of a Smoke-Free Environment for its incentive of 50 per cent reduction in fees for outdoor dining permits when businesses make their outdoor dining areas smoke free. I understand that 60 businesses have taken that up, and I was pleased to pass the award to the Lord Mayor this morning. The enthusiasm for creating a healthier smoke-free South Australia adds to my great pleasure that the government's work to reduce the harm caused by smoking has been recognised as being the best in the country over the past year.

Ms Chapman: Why are they still smoking at Glenside, then?

The SPEAKER: Order!

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