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AMA/ACOSH 2003 TOBACCO SCOREBOARD - NATIONAL SUMMARIES
The NORTHERN TERRITORY is in an extraordinary position this year in securing its first ever win in the National Tobacco Scoreboard. Considering it came from the bottom of the pile last year, and hailed as the ‘Most Promising Performer’ it has managed to outperform all the other states in 2002/3 on a win of 52 points.
With a range of impressive and momentous legislative changes across the board, the Northern Territory has propelled to the top this year. Overall, the legislation is a quantum leap for the Northern Territory and the government should be congratulated from having been at the bottom of the heap for so long. Legislation passed in the NT last year which came in effect on January 1 and May 31, this year pushed it way ahead of its counterparts.
A decision was granted to award two bonus points for pure fortitude. In comparison to the other states, NT has put in the most effort and action in 2002/3 making momentous leaps in the least amount of time. The biggest leaps occurred in ‘Enclosed Public Places’ with 50% seating in outdoor venues going smoke free and ‘Tobacco Promotion Restrictions’ where packets must be separated from confectionary and toys. Some key points still need to be addressed in areas such as marketing to minors (point of sale advertising), packaging displays behind the counter, smoking on school campuses, lack of a complaint’s process for employees and patrons and lack of a suitable timetable for a formal and transparent review. The nation will be watching the Northern Territory very closely this year to ensure it follows its new policies and regulations closely with tough enforcement. By addressing its pronounced legislative shortcomings the Territory could become a national leader.
CONGRATULATIONS NORTHERN TERRITORY ON BEING A HIGH ACHIEVER FOR 2002.
* This year we had a curious situation as three state runners up all tied in at 50 points.
VICTORIA, who hosted the Second Australian National Tobacco Control Conference this year, has come equal second with New South Wales and Western Australia. Last years winner and best performer did not make any major improvements this year. Issues concerning gambling, hospitality venues, workplace legislation and enclosed public places regulations needs updating if Victoria is to stay in the top three.
Equal second place getter is NEW SOUTH WALES, who has come up from third position last year to also be an equal runner up. 'Smoke free' hospital legislation and funding for campaigns is commendable and successful prosecutions against Philip Morris and Wavesnet was a highlight for NSW in 2002. New South Wales still only provides moderate support to Quit campaigns and initiatives per capita. There still needs to be improvements in the casino and other hospitality venue legislation. It must improve on all aspects of tobacco related legislation to keep up with Australia’s leaders.
Joining Victoria and New South Wales in second place is WESTERN AUSTRALIA who, with the exception of modest new allocations to education and other health campaigns, has shown no new initiatives by government in the area of tobacco control. The impending review for Enclosed Public Places is well overdue and has not yet taken place. The lack of commitment for effective enforcement of tobacco retailers selling to minors makes Western Australia a poor leader this year in comparison to other years. There is still some support for Quit campaigning in terms of funding and initiatives. Western Australia’s legislation on tobacco related issues is in need of a serious overhaul. The Government must act immediately on the review of the Smoking in Enclosed Public Places Act in order to improve its effect on currently exempt hospitality venues or face ending up nearer to the bottom of the table next year.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, has finished third overall on 43 points. Youth Smoking and Passive Smoking around Children campaigns are on target, yet further funding is still needed for state-wide campaign initiatives. There remains loads of potential for a marked improvement across the state as South Australia still lags behind in its approach to Smoking in Enclosed Public Places, Smokefree Workplaces and Tobacco Promotion Restrictions. ACOSH is hoping that this will change from the Hospitality Taskforce Submission already in progress as there is a need for South Australia to lift it's game in most areas of anti-tobacco activities or it too could be facing an award in the near future.
The AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY now finds itself separate from the leaders and spiralling towards the bottom of this year’s table in fourth place and on 40 points. Tobacco Promotion Restrictions seem to be a strong point in the ACT as they have not fallen foul to the seedy 'cigarette girls' and nightclub promotions the other states were faced with. There is room for improvement in a number of areas including Quit Campaigns and initiatives in addressing or promoting adult cessation. With a proposed review for Enclosed Public Places, ACOSH looks forward to seeing significant changes in the ACT over the coming year.
In fifth place and on 38 points, TASMANIA came very close to getting the 'Dirty Ashtray Award' this year. There is a strong call for more affirmative action on funding for Quit campaigns and cessation programs amongst the adult and indigenous population. The Tasmanian Government has recently reviewed retailers who were willing to sell to minors and it must take action to prosecute and undertake further reviews in order to keep up with the rest of Australia.
While the Northern Territory improved dramatically in a single year, QUEENSLAND, is the only state that seems to have gone backwards. Its decision to cut funding to general Quit Campaigns had an embarrassing re-coil effect that has left Queensland with another all time low score of 36 points and the subsequent recipient of the this years ‘Dirty Ashtray Award’.
Last year we described Queensland as the “Most Disappointing Performer” and warned that they faced the Dirty Ashtray again in 2003 if they failed to address funding and legislative shortcomings. These shortcomings have not been remedied as Queensland continued to disappoint in anti-tobacco action. Overall expenditure on tobacco control remains the lowest in Australia per capita at just 44c a head compared to $4.00 nationally.
While a number of States and Territories have been a little slow to act on national recommendations for reducing smoking amongst minors, Queensland intent on actively opposing the key elements of compliance and monitoring of tobacco retailers. On the plus side, it continues to perform well in the development of programs for Indigenous Australians and has started researching specific health concerns for women and smoking. These initiatives are important, but are not a substitute for properly funded, core programs like Quit, which benefit the whole community.
The gap between Queensland and the other states is so large that it will require a concerted effort similar to the NT in order to avoid yet another belittling accolade next year. Working in it’s favour is the news that the Minister for Health has agreed to run a campaign later this year warning parents about the dangers of smoking around children. With the ANZ and Suncorp Stadium now smoke free this is at least a start in the right direction, although in most areas, we have to say that the government has either made no progress or gone backwards. Queensland has proven yet again to be the year’s MOST DISAPPOINTING performer in tobacco control.
‘World No Tobacco Day’ May 31 - Smoke free films and fashion
AMA / ACOSH Tobacco Scoreboard 2003
ACT / NSW / NT / QLD / SA / TAS /VIC
/WA
Enclosed Public Places Policy / 7 / 6 / 8 / 6 / 7 / 7 / 5 / 6Workplaces / 7 / 7 / 8 / 6 / 3 / 7 / 3 / 6
Tobacco Promotion Restriction / 8 / 8 / 9 / 7 / 5 / 8 / 8 / 4
Support of General Quit Campaigns / 2 / 6 / 3 / 4 / 7 / 4 / 7 / 8
Initiatives to Address Youth Uptake / 4 / 6 / 7 / 2 / 5 / 3 / 7 / 8
Initiatives to Promote Adult Cessation / 2 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 6 / 2 / 8 / 8
Smoking Among Indigenous Australians / 4 / 5 / 7 / 4 / 6 / 2 / 6 / 6
Enforcement / 6 / 8 / 5 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 4