Stronger action required to reduce harm from tobacco use
Eligibility - Queensland citizens
Principal Petitioner:
Phil Browne
5/45 Doggett Street
TENERIFFE QLD 4005
5/45 Doggett Street
TENERIFFE QLD 4005
Total Signatures - 194
Sponsoring Member:
Grace Grace MP
Posting Date:
21/3/2011
Closing Date:
21/7/2011
Tabled Date:
2/8/2011
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Queensland citizens draws to the attention of the House:
- Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in Australia and further strengthening of legislation is required.
- In 2010 Queensland Health estimated that smoking contributed directly to over 3,400 deaths and over 35,000 hospital operations annually.
- Queensland Health estimates 32,000 Queensland children aged 12-17 smoke weekly.
- Extending smoking bans will reduce passive smoking harm and assist smokers to quit.
- Since 1 January 2010 councils have the option to ban smoking in pedestrian malls and public transport waiting points. A ban is proposed for only one pedestrian mall and nil public transport points. This optional system is a failure.
- Publicans are skirting the intention of current legislation by including outdoor areas seldom/never used by patrons when calculating the designated outdoor smoking area (DOSA). Balconies, carparks and footpaths can be included in the DOSA calculation, reducing the non-smoking area of a venue's main outdoor drinking area to below the 50% intended.
- Increasing tobacco price has the greatest impact on reducing sales.
Your petitioners therefore request the House to:
- Ban smoking in all pedestrian malls and public-transport waiting points.
- Ban adults smoking in vehicles carrying children <18 years.
- Only major outdoor drinking areas made available every day are to be used to calculate the DOSA at liquor-licensed premises.
- Reduce the DOSA at liquor-licensed premises from 50% of the outdoor area to 25%.
- Lobby the Federal Government for further tobacco excise increases.
Stronger action required to reduce harm from tobacco use