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Mr MIKE BAIRD (Manly) [12.10 p.m.]: Mr Acting-Speaker, I thank you again for yet another acknowledgement of the Sea Eagles victory. It is a pity the member for Wyong is not present in the Chamber because we have very connected views on that subject. It is with pleasure that I join in debate on the Public Health (Tobacco) Bill 2008 because I believe the legislation is fundamentally important and represents a big step forward not only for the youth in my community, whom I represent as the shadow Minister for Youth, but also for the broad community and the health system as a whole. There is no doubt that tobacco kills. My colleague the shadow Minister for Health referred to the significant impact of tobacco on the health of families in New South Wales.
As the shadow Minister for Youth, I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that young people adopt healthy lifestyles, which obviously means lifestyles that exclude smoking. I also wish to prevent young people from taking up smoking and prevent children from losing a parent to tobacco-related illness, which sadly is a regular occurrence in our community. I believe that the bill achieves the aims I have referred to, and that is why I strongly support it. The purpose of the legislation is quite simple and its aims may be summarised by four fundamental points: to put an end to the display of cigarette packets in shops, to limit the number of tobacco vending machines, to make it an offence to smoke in a car when a child is present, and to increase penalties for existing tobacco offences. As I have said, the legislation is a step forward for public health and for general commonsense.
The Cancer Council and Action on Smoking and Health organisations have had a big role in public health debates on tobacco. I have met the chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, Anne Jones, who also is a local constituent. She does a great job in the community and also for Action on Smoking and Health. I sincerely applaud the work she and her team have done to reduce the burden of harm caused by smoking on the lives of Australians. I also acknowledge the work of the Cancer Council of New South Wales, which does a fantastic job. When applause and plaudits are handed out, the Cancer Council of New South Wales should be right at the top in receiving recognition. Lisa, who works in my office, worked for the Cancer Council for five years before she came to work in my office. She is testament to the calibre of people associated with the Cancer Council and the tireless work they perform. They provide huge support for cancer patients, raise funds for research to treat and prevent cancer, and carry out public advocacy work. They have been instrumental in having smoking banned in pubs and clubs in New South Wales.
I do not think we should forget the pivotal role played by the Cancer Council of New South Wales. Through the Cancer Council's work a smoke-free campaign attracted more than 30,000 signatures on a petition. There would have been no change to the quality of air in pubs and clubs if it had not been for the Cancer Council having led the debate. The Cancer Council asked the Government to listen, and in that instance the Government did listen; but without the Cancer Council of New South Wales, there would have been no change to smoking in pubs and clubs whereas now all of us can go to pubs and clubs and enjoy the atmosphere without having smoking intrude on every single visit. I congratulate the Cancer Council New South Wales on its absolutely pivotal role in delivering that initiative. The Cancer Council and Action on Smoking and Health have worked hard to lobby the Government on the measures provided by the bill. I commend their efforts to the House.
I mention the views of a local mum who wrote to me in support of the bill. With some bills members receive no correspondence, yet in relation to other bills we do. This bill attracted some correspondence. I note particularly the views expressed by Kate Serisier of North Curl Curl, who said of the bill—quite rightly, in my opinion:
[It] strikes a good balance between protecting children whilst not interfering with the rights of adults. It does not create hardship for groups (such as the mentally-ill, the terminally-ill, jail inmates and people suffering from depression) who are addicted to smoking. Kate wrote that she supports the bill because it:
protects teen workers and removes a potential source of peer-group pressure;
protects children from close-range tobacco smoke, de-normalizes the behaviour and would raise community awareness that it is not acceptable to smoke around children.
Kate's views are shared by many in my community who value their health, healthy lifestyles, the protection of children and obviously support strengthening of laws that protect our children.
In conclusion, I note that just a few decades ago people could smoke in the cinema and smoke on an aeroplane, and smoking was advertised in magazines. I remember being very reticent to walk into some of my early bosses' offices because not only were they covered in empty coffee cups but there was also a haze of smoke that I encountered as I made my way towards their desks. It was with great reticence that I went to see the boss in those days. Notwithstanding that that is no longer the case, it seems as though it was only yesterday that smoking intruded into workplaces and social venues. Today smoking is not a normal part of our social lives.
Mr Robert Coombs: Not to mention the bottle of Scotch in the drawer!
Mr MIKE BAIRD: That was for lunchtime. There was a different type of lunchtime in those days. We know the dangers of smoking and we know the harm that smoking causes to our health. We also know about the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses. We talk about the fiscal gap in the Health budget, and I assure members that a big part of the reason for that is having to treat smoking-related illnesses. Early intervention, which I believe this bill will effect, addresses the social cost burden, and some of the fiscal gap in the Health budget also could be attacked.
I do not believe it is appropriate for cigarette packets to be displayed at a child's eye level next to lollies at a shop counter. It is not fair for a child to breathe in the smoke of an adult in the confines of a car. Young adults who visit pubs and clubs should not be exposed to vending machines everywhere that are selling cigarettes at every turn. This bill makes important changes that reflect the fight against the harmfulness of tobacco. I strongly support the legislation and acknowledge the need to protect young children and young people in our community.
ACTING-SPEAKER (Mr Thomas George): I am sure all members of the House join with the Minister and the member for Manly in recognising, congratulating and thanking the Cancer Council of New South Wales because it does a fantastic job.
Question—That this bill be now agreed to in principle—put and resolved in the affirmative.
Motion agreed to.
Bill agreed to in principle.
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