Submission to Public Consultation
Submission to Public Consultation
Public.health
Subject: Smoke-free Tasmania
Everybody has the Right to breathe Clean Air,
free from the Poisons in Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
On behalf of the Non-Smokers' Movement of Australia Inc (NSMA), may I congratulate the Tasmanian Government on considering strengthening of smoke-free policy in the interests of the health of all residents and visitors, and especially for children, frail-aged people, and people with disabilities.
Our organisation was formed over 30 years ago, in 1977, to fight for every body's basic right to breathe clean air, free from the poisons in tobacco smoke.
Clean water, clean air - every body's inalienable rights. Our Governments protect our right to clean water in our taps - we have every right expect our Governments to protect our right to breathe clean air.
Some may say that the battles for clean air rights are almost over but we must point out that, due to greed, ignorance, addiction and complacency, there are still more than 3 million Australians who smoke and expel the poisons in tobacco smoke.
Tobacco kills more Australians than any other single product.
Children continue to take up smoking at an alarming rate, with very few restrictions.
Even worse than that, innocent victims are forced to breathe in the poisons in secondhand smoke from those 3 million smokers - children, disabled people and the frail-aged are the silent and helpless victims and their rights are far more valid than those of people who claim a right to smoke anywhere because they are using a so-called legal product. Chainsaws, cars and guns are also legally available products but are subject to sensible restrictions.
We call on Tasmania's and all of Australia's Governments, to protect all Australians from this totally preventable epidemic.
Right to breathe Clean Air: The message, of everybody's basic human right to breathe clean air, must be emphasised in the face of opposition from smokers who are, after all, in the grip of a highly addictive substance (nicotine). Opposition comes not only from smokers, but also from Big Tobacco and its lengthy chain of dealers, from the so-called "Hospitality" Industry and the Gambling Industry and many who feed off them, including political parties and governments dependent on sponsorship and taxation from tobacco - particularly odious methods of revenue-raising.
Smokers' Rights: We continually remind non-smokers and people who smoke that, despite the fact that tobacco is currently a restricted but legally available product, smokers' rights to use it stop at their own bodies (at their lips). Smokers have no right to impose the poisons and stink of tobacco smoke on others, indoors or outdoors.
Discrimination
Discrimination occurs in all places where smoking is allowed. Those who cannot, or who will not (to protect themselves) enter premises or outdoor areas where smoking is allowed are being discriminated against not only by the smokers but also by the owners of the premises and by the governments which allow smoking in those places.
Smokers are not being discriminated against - they would all be welcome to use such places, simply not to smoke there.
"If the behaviour of one person causes unreasonable disadvantage to another then that behaviour must be curbed or some way found to minimise or prevent its impact. When testing for reasonableness, it seems to me that total exclusion weighs far more heavily than the pleasure gained from the smoking of a cigarette." Judge G. Innes Disability Discrimination Case,1997 Francey & Meeuweissen v. Hilton
Civil Liberties:
Smokers may have the right to use a legally available product, but not where their smoking adversely affects others.
Nanny State: In the words of the President of UK's Royal college of Paediatrics and Child Health, in 2009, when discussing smoking in cars with children -"This is legitimate Nanny-State territory".
We remind Tasmania's Government that, with children exposed daily to the poisons in tobacco smoke, this is legitimate Nanny State territory, and that all governments have a special responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
We don't hear the cry of "Nanny State!" when vehicle fuel emissions are restricted or when building workers are told to wear helmets and hearing protection, and safety vests. No - it's mostly where deadly drugs of addiction, such as tobacco and alcohol are involved, and where those drugs of addiction are peddled legally.
Tasmanian Government has a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
The majority of smoking law reform has been driven by complaints from the loudest and strongest. Governments should look at the pressing need for those reforms in the past, and provide the same or stronger protection for those who cannot help themselves, namely: the unborn, infants and children, physically and intellectually disabled, frail-aged, prisoners, non-English speakers, in all aspects of their lives.
Financial Impact/Benefit
It is difficult to estimate the financial benefits of smokefree policies except to say that such benefits will far outweigh the estimated costs of legislation, signage, monitoring and enforcement, as the impact will be long-term and far-reaching, viz. cleaner air, healthier community, less places for smoking and thus reduced smoking rates, less visibility of smoking, less stink and less cigarette butts and packets in streets, doorways, parks, beaches, waiting areas, and waterways.
Most people don't smoke and they greatly resent that their access to clean air outdoors is currently blatantly denied them by smokers. Smokers have become accustomed to restrictions and should only smoke in designated spaces.
Any adverse impact which may occur as a result of smoking bans must be regarded as a community cost of health reforms which will, in the short and long term, save lives, not only through lessened exposure to tobacco smoke but also through reduced smoking rates. No smoke-free reforms should ever be delayed in case of perceived adverse economic impact.
Advice from Big Tobacco about potentially adverse economic effects should certainly be taken into account - they are, quite naturally, gravely concerned about the effect on their profit margins
Duty of Care /Workplace Health and Safety
Proprietors and Governments are reminded that they owe a duty of care to clients, patrons and employees within their jurisdictions and premises. All are aware of the dangers and that there is no safe level of tobacco smoke. Any person/s who suffers due to exposure to the well-known toxins is entitled to sue those proprietors and/or governments for breach of that duty of care as well as for breach of workplace health and safety law which states that known dangers must be removed from the workplace.
International Treaty
Australia is a party to the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Australia played a leading role in the negotiations and claims to be a strong supporter of the Convention. The second key obligation under the treaty commits our governments to the following action: Recognising that "scientific evidence has unequivocally established that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability", Governments shall take measures "providing protection from exposure to tobacco smoke in indoor workplaces, public transport, indoor public places, and, as appropriate, other public places."
Legislation and Enforcement
Regarding signage: All signage should be clear and unambiguous
Policing new regulations is, of course, a matter of community education. With smoking rates dropping in the community, and with a heightened sense of our basic right to clean air, many non-smokers will, with the knowledge that government aims to protect the community's health, speak up when they see breaches of regulations.
Governments should, of course, provide strong deterrents in the form of fines in cases of breaches of the regulations.
With the backing of smoking ban and some simple signage, both children and adults will be able to speak out confidently to defend their right to clean, smokefree air.
Smokefree Lives, INDOORS and OUTDOORS
Over the past decade many members of the community, especially children, have lived, worked and played in smokefree conditions indoors and, when they approach the "great outdoors" they are immediately assaulted, at every doorway, every outdoor seating area, outdoor dining, at picnic areas, at so-called outdoor areas of pubs and clubs, and even at entrances to kindergartens, schools, and medical centres, by tobacco smoke from people indulging in their killer drug of choice and then tossing their butts away. Tobacco products kill and harm not only smokers but also innocent bystanders. If they were using syringes for delivery of their drug of choice, there would be a huge outcry.
Governments protect other amenities in the environment - they carry out noise abatement, pest control, food hygiene, fight chemical pollution. Governments have the right and the responsibility to protect the community from the effects of tobacco smoke, for the sake of improved public health as well as for improved amenity.
IF YOU CAN SMELL THE TOBACCO SMOKE,
THE POISONS ARE GOING INTO YOUR LUNGS (AND YOUR FAMILY'S LUNGS) (Thoracic Surgeon, NSW, 2009)
Basic steps towards a truly smokefree and tobacco-free Tasmania
1 Commit to an end date for tobacco sales, preferably 31 May (World No Tobacco Day) 2017. By that date, sales must be restricted to prescriptions for licensed users only.
2. Confirm that everybody has the right to breathe clean air, free from the poisons in tobacco smoke.
3. Declare tobacco smoke a Toxic Air Contaminant
Government can provide a strong tool for developing far-reaching legislation and legal rights to gain everybody's right to clean, smokefree air in all aspects of their lives.
4 Declare all tobacco products unsafe.
5. Protect unborn and babies (especially in indigenous communities) by doing everything possible to prevent women from smoking while pregnant and while caring for babies
6. Smokefree Homes - In the matter of secondhand smoke in the home, nobody should smoke at home where children, frail aged or disabled people are present. In any instance of smoking where children are present, a smoker should be prosecuted for child abuse. Spanking a child is regarded as child abuse. Smoking near a child, with the possibility of triggering life-threatening conditions such as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and asthma, must also be designated as child abuse.
"Child abuse doesn't have to mean broken bones and black and blue marks. Young growing tissues are far more vulnerable to carcinogens than those of adults. Knowingly subjecting children to respiratory tract diseases is child abuse."
Dr William Cahan, Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA, 1993
7. Legislate that children may not enter any smoking-allowed areas, indoors or outdoors (similar to not being allowed in gambling areas).
Nobody can say how much tobacco smoke will trigger life-threatening asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), heart and lung conditions. The safest option is to keep all smoking well-distanced from every body and at the same time help prevent further uptake of the use of this deadly and highly addictive substance.
Rather than designating that areas such as children's' playground equipment should have a smokefree zone around it, the government should turn the concept around to recognise our basic rights to smokefree air, and should designate all areas to be smokefree with the exception of a limited number of designated outdoor smoking areas/ spaces.
Dr. Andrew Penman, CEO of Cancer Council says, "We are recommending to the government that outdoor smoking needs to move…to the assumption that smoking is prohibited from all outdoor areas unless otherwise stated."
8. Public Transport Waiting Areas- Bus, Boat, Airport, Ferry, Train, Tram and Taxi waiting areas and Vehicle and bicycle Parking Areas should all be declared smokefree, within at least a 10 metre zone. There should be at least 10metre buffer zones around all areas.
Public transport users often wait long periods for their smokefree and environmentally-friendly transport. They are "doing the right thing" by using public transport.
People who wish to smoke should find an area well-distanced from all others.
Governments should not feel the need to provide butt-bins at every waiting area - smokers should dispose of their butts safely and thoughtfully, in personal ashtrays.
9. Smokefree zones around Children's Care Centres, Schools, Play -Centres, and Services.
Schools and child-care centres carry high concentrations of children, for at least thirty hours each week. All such centres should have a 10 metre smokefree zone around their borders, not only to protect from the smoke but also to de-normalise smoking in children's eyes.
Similarly, hospitals and medical centres should also have 10 metre smokefree zones completely surrounding their borders.
10. Smokefree Alfresco Dining and Drinking-Cafes and Restaurants, Pubs and Clubs
These areas are used for long periods, with people of all ages sitting in close proximity to each other. The impact from tobacco smoke in such circumstances can be as bad as indoors. Children and employees should not be allowed near such spaces. Smoking should only be allowed in Designated Outdoor Smoking Areas/Spaces, well-distanced from building openings.
11 Smokefree Parks, Sporting Fields, and all spectator Areas
Sport, active play and smoking simply do not mix. No child should see smoking as a normal part of sport or play. There is nothing normal about smoking.
12 Smokefree Publicly-sponsored Events
Events held on Public Land (e.g.markets/ concerts/festivals/Christmas carols)
All should be declared smokefree, with a simple clause included in contracts. Short announcements, combined with the usual sun-safe messages are sufficient - "This is a smoke-free event" There is no reason to apologise for an "inconvenience" -tobacco smoke has caused an "inconvenience" for years.
13. Smokefree Beaches, Waterways and Jetties
Smoking along all waterways and at jetties (within 10 metres) should be totally banned. The ban should not be limited to patrolled areas.
Poisonous cigarette butts cause untold damage to our marine life.
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14 Designated Outdoor Smoking Areas/Spaces All potentially crowded public spaces, such as central business districts, markets, concerts, festivals, and sporting arenas, should have a limited number of Designated Outdoor Smoking Areas/spaces. Designating such spaces should not be regarded as condoning smoking, but as a means to restrict and contain both the tobacco smoke and cigarette butts. When placed at a distance from thoroughfares and building openings they also serve to take smoking out of sight of children, therefore de-normalising smoking in their eyes. There is nothing normal about smoking.