Recent media on T21 September 2020
You can read the Economic Analysis report here: https://www.smokefreetasmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Wells-Economic-Analysis-T21-in-Tasmania-September-2020.pdf
The Menzies research Reports are available at :
Tobacco industry interference in legislative processes in Tasmania
There has been a lot of controversy in 2019 about the way tobacco industry front groups have had secret meetings with and lobbying of politicians in relation to T21.
The Advocate newspaper seems to think it is fine for the tobacco industry to lobby politicians and that somehow the FCTC Article 5.3 does not apply to front groups of retailers. This Editorial shows a complete ignorance of the provisions of the FCTC Article 5.3. The Advocate Editorial opposing FCTC 21 november 2019
Fortunately many people wrote to the Advocate telling them they were wrong. Letters from Emeritus Professor Mike Daube and Dr. Nick Towle were printed. Letters to Advocate re editorial Mike Daube and Nick Towle 22 November 2019
In the Examiner Robert Mallett took a swipe at international expert Ginny Chadwick from the US Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation. He has criticised an international tobacco addiction expert’s support to raise the smoking age in the state to 21 years.
“Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation director Ginny Chadwick visited Tasmania on Monday to persuade state members of Parliament to support a bill from Windermere independent MLC Ivan Dean to raise the smoking age.
“The reality is Tobacco 21 laws aren’t designed to restrict youth access to tobacco; they are designed to restrict tobacco sellers’ access to youth,” Ms Chadwick said.
Tasmanian Small Business Council chief executive Robert Mallett said the bill was an attack on state retailers.
He said Ms Chadwick’s comment on the bill showed it would not prevent access to tobacco by young people.
Mr Mallett said the recent Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drug Survey detailed that a majority of young people who had smoked cigarettes got them through family and friends.
“Lifting the legal smoking age to 21, and demonising small businesses who already do the right thing by not selling cigarettes to young people, won’t change this,” Mr Mallett said.
He said businesses were open to a reduction of the smoking rate in Tasmania, including through the regulation of alternative smoke-free products like e-cigarettes.”
Mr. Mallett also said small business would suffer if T21 went ahead.
Mr. Zimmerman said much the same in the Mercury and listed the organisations opposing T21. “To this end, the Australian Retailers Association’s call is supported by the Tasmanian Small Business Council, Tasmanian Independent Retailers, the Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, Master Grocers Australia, the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Australasian Association of Convenience Stores.”
A story by Emily Jarvie about an MLC allegedly being threatened by pro-tobacco lobbyists on 19 November has been removed from the Examiner and Advocate websites. Apparently this could not be confirmed.
Hon. Ivan Dean MLC pictured below wearing his T21 pin provided by Ginny Chadwick.
Hon. Ivan Dean MLC refused to be intimidated by the tobacco industry and their front organisations.
“I am confident with further consultation and negotiation Tasmania will pass the Tobacco21 policy.
Our Government already recognises that 18-21-year-olds are vulnerable in other portfolios.
The Liberal Government expands out of home care for wards of the state aged 18 to 21.
Research shows that providing support to this age group at home with foster parents could reduce smoking rates from 56 per cent to 24 per cent.
As legislators we are not prepared to abandon this cohort of young Tasmanians to the predatory multibillion-dollar tobacco industry.
I will not be manacled by an industry whose products kill 500 Tasmanians each year and then seeks to replace those lost with our young people.
Tasmania loses $696 million a year to cigarettes in social and economic costs.
Our hospitals are overrun and our people are suffering from smoking related illnesses — let’s not make this the future for our kids and grandchildren.
I will not be withdrawing my T21 Bill.
I am prepared to do whatever it takes to protect our young people from the tobacco industry.
Once I am satisfied that all members of the Legislative Council have had time to process the documentation provided in the briefing, T21 will be brought forward for debate.
Ivan Dean is the independent member for Windermere in Tasmania’s Legislative Council.”
The Legislative Council decided on 19 November 2019 not to refer the Bill to a Committee. The Examiner legislative council rejects referral to committee
This is not the first time that Tasmanian politicians have been slammed for consorting with big tobacco
In 2017 Tasmania was runner up in the “Dirty Ashtray Awards”.The Examiner 2017 SmokeFree Tasmania slams government
“A war of words has erupted between the Health Minister Michael Ferguson and advocacy group, SmokeFree Tasmania, after it accused the government of bowing to the wishes of big tobacco companies.
The stoush comes after Tasmania was named runner-up in the Australian Medical Association’s Dirty Ashtray Award – for governments that make the least effort to reduce smoking.
…… But SmokeFree Tasmania north member Harley Stanton said the government had included suggestions from big tobacco companies to formulate its Healthy Tasmania Strategic Plan.
“Given that the Tasmanian government, in its healthy Tasmania policy, included advice from Imperial Tobacco it is not surprising that they have been nationally rebuked,” he said.
“This is both embarrassing internationally and bad conduct for any government.”
Smoking and Meningococcal - the risk
MENINGOCOCCAL AND SMOKING - RISK
SmokeFree Tasmania has urged people to quit smoking if they are primary carers of small children, because of the risk of invasive meningococcal disease. As a first step all Tasmanian children and adolescents should be vaccinated.
“Children in contact with smokers are at greater risk of contracting invasive meningococcal disease, and should be vaccinated urgently”, Dr. Nick Towle, Spokesman for SmokeFree Tasmania said.
Dr. Norman Swan on the ABC said:
“…the most potent factor was having a carer who smoked.
The link wasn’t the smoke in the air, as you might have thought. It looks as though people who smoke have damaged airways, which are more likely to carry the meningococcal germ.
So smokers are more likely to be harbouring the bug - not something that taking your cigarette outside can change.
Another reason to quit.”
“We also urge the government to conduct targeted campaigns in late winter and early spring, as recommended by clinicians and experts from Queensland” Dr. Towle said.
The Tasmanian Government has a Fact Sheet available online regarding meningococcal disease.
Information about free vaccination for 15-19 year old teenagers is also online.
The Journal Internal Medicine by Queensland experts indicated
“….. an established association between risk of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and exposure to cigarette smoke and highlights the risk to young children from primary caregiver smoking. The risk of IMD in young children could be further reduced if primary caregivers did not smoke.
There is an opportunity to use this message in targeted antismoking campaigns. Such campaigns might have more impact during peak periods of IMD (late winter/early spring).”
“Vaccination of children and teenagers against meningococcal disease is the primary recommendation, though this government needs to reconsider stronger measures to reduce the uptake of smoking, and continue sufficient funding to help parents and caregivers to quit smoking”. Dr. Towle said.
Final Meningococcal media release Augst 30 2017
teenagers and smoking and meningococcal
International media interest in the TFG and SmokeFree Tasmania.
A film crew from Korea flew to Tasmania to interview Hon Ivan Dean and Dr. Kathryn Barnsley on 9 December 2016.
The Legislative Council Committee brought down its report on the TFG and says there is no legal impediment to its implementation!
Dr. Harley Stanton says “kite flying” no way to improve health.
Tobacco Free Generation better than MLSA - Tasmanian Times.
MLSA is ‘symbolic gesture politics’ says Prof Simon Chapman.
Mercury story on the MLSA and TFG Feb 22 2016.
ABC news, Prof Haydn Walters interview on the MLSA and the TFG.
If we can ‘recall’ lettuce - why not cigarettes? Tobacco is radioactive, poisonous and carcinogenic. See Croakey story.
Interview with Ivan Dean MLC on ABC radio.
Big Tobacco targets our children - AGAIN!
Leading Launceston journalist Barry Prismall writes in the Examiner and describes the harrowing experience of the lung cancer of a close friend.
Another myth busted! New study shows little weight is gained after quitting smoking!
The Lancet Respiratory Editorial praises Tasmania.
Our media release on 10 October 2016 on the “light” cigarette scandal. final-lights-101216
See our media release about the Australian Hotels Association, the tobacco free generation and the government proposal to raise the “smoking age”. Final-media-release-TFG-SFT-and-AHA-and-MLSA-Feb-2016
If we can recall lettuce - why not tobacco?
Litvinenko, Polonium-210 and the big tobacco industry cover-up. Cigarettes are radioactive, and contain Polonium-210, the same substance that was used to murder Litvinenko in the UK. Richard Proctor wrote about it in the New York Times. The CDC in the USA also records the evidence on Polonium-210 and cigarettes.
Ivan Dean MLC interview on ABC radio.
Great video of the Tobacco Free Generation bike ride in Singapore .
Dramatic falls in tobacco consumption in Australia, according to Canberra report.
The Conversation has published an article about the Tobacco Free Generation. And the Mercury mentions the article.
Mercury 030415 Haydn letter. Disappointment about the government taking advice from a previous Health Minister.
Lancet Editorial media statement 27 March 2015 from SmokeFree Tasmania
The TFG proposal has now been considered by the Legislative Council and referred to a Committee to consider the detail. Unfortunately the current Minister appears to be taking advice from a former Health Minister who failed to take decisive action against big tobacco, and indeed had a “voluntary” agreement with them about tobacco advertising. Not an effective action at all!
Apparently pubs are now whingeing about the proposed legislation. Given that a third of them are flouting the law on smoke free areas yet their leader said last year - “Tasmanian Hospitality Association general manager Steve Old said most people agreed that banning smoking from public venues had been a positive step for the hospitality industry.”
The Bangkok Post 20 March and Yahoo - talks about Tasmania and the TFG.
On Tuesday 17 March Imperial Tobacco and local Tasmanian retailers gave a briefing to the Legislative Council. Copies of the transcript will be available on request to Hon. Ivan Dean - phone +61 3 6324 2005 during business hours.
On Friday 27 March we provided a briefing to the Legislative Council.
Pictured left to right: Prof. Jon Berrick, Hon. Ivan Dean MLC, Assoc. Prof. Sean Beggs, Kathryn Barnsley, Dr. Harley Stanton, Prof. Haydn Walters, Assoc. Prof. Len Crocombe, Prof. Mark Nelson, Dr. Julia Walters, Dr. Adrian Reynolds. (Dr Seana Gall and Dr. Nick Cooling also provided a briefing but had to leave before the photo was taken)
There was considerable local media interest this week in February 2015 from the Mercury, Examiner and Advocate and ABC radio.
Need a laugh? Try this - well researched by John Oliver.
New West Australian ad. Awesome.
HUGE SUPPORT for the amendment! 85% support for the Tobacco Free Generation! See the Mercury Survey results.
This is a small sample but consistent with all the other newspaper polls done in Australia e.g. SMH, Adelaide Advertiser, Burnie Advocate.
A leading Tasmanian oral surgeon Graeme Hall speaks out about smoking and in support of the TFG.
“When I first started here at the clinic I thought I would get used to it, but it’s getting worse,” he said. “Some days I just feel like crying.”
The Sunday Tasmanian had an excellent article on 21 December - with a survey to complete. The students from Albuera St school have been giving it a lot of thought! GP and researcher Dr. Julia Walters has some wise comments about how the TFG will save babies, by reducing smoking in young pregnant women.
In a letter to the Examiner newspaper on December 8 2014 Hon. Ivan Dean MLC gives the facts, and explains misunderstandings that some people have about the Bill.
Youth must butt out this dying habit - Mercury opinion article October 2014.
The Amendment
Ivan says “It is untrue to say that the proposed Bill will see the Tobacco-Free Generation convicted, made criminals of and jailed for making a decision to light up. Quite frankly that is nonsense and great care has been taken in putting this Bill together to insure (if supported) young people are not criminalised.”
Sarah Abo at SBS interviewed a number of people and put together a great story about the Tobacco Free Generation Bill.[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WIt1aYzU9I”]
Several Respiratory Physicians have recorded their views of the Tobacco Free Generation proposal in November 2014.
Prof. Haydn Walters
Dr. James Markos
Dr. Greg Haug
Mercury Article October 2014
“The “tobacco-free generation” proposal to be tabled in the Legislative Council in a matter of weeks would see the slow phase out of the commercial sale of tobacco to children born this century.
It will not penalise smokers, cause hardship to retailers, or cause an increase in smuggled tobacco. It will save the lives of thousands of Tasmanian children, adolescents and adults.
Nothing will change for the 60,000 current smokers in Tasmania.
They will still be able to buy their deadly tobacco product from retailers — 500 of them will still die every year and 5000 family members will mourn the loss of a loved one, and sit beside them as they die an agonising death, gasping for breath.”
August 2012 ABC news following the Legislative Council unanimous votes in support of the TFG
Lateline ABC featuring Michelle O’Byrne and Dr. Kathryn Terry from the Cancer Council of Tasmania and QUIT- August 2012
Adelaide Advertiser - including a Poll that shows 67.7% support for the Tobacco Free Generation proposal.
International Interest
China Post
Al Jazeera English in 2012 released a lovely story with Tasmanian school children
Dr. Harley Stanton (left) and Professor Jon Berrick (right) in Tasmania 2012
Sky News Report Published: 3:20 pm, Thursday, 6 November 2014
A Tasmanian politician’s plan to create a smoke-free generation could set an international precedent.
Professor of law in public health at Boston’s Northeastern University, Dick Daynard, has thrown his weight behind the proposed legislation.
Professor Daynard says “….if Tasmania does adopt the bill it would be a big boost for efforts in the US and elsewhere.”
“Scream Test”
Former Emergency Medicine specialist, Dr. Bryan Walpole pointed out in a letter to the Editor in the Mercury on 4 December 2014, that if the tobacco industry “screams” then it means a proposal is likely to reduce smoking rates. Dr Walpole has campaigned to reduce smoking rates for many years and was involved in campaigns to eliminate tobacco advertising in the 1970s and 1908s Scream Test letter Bryan Walpole
International support from the British Medical Association. Dr. Tim Croquer-Buque leading the charge!
And the International Conference on Public Health Priorities in the 21st Century, India September 2013, key speaker Dr. Margaret Chan, with a message from His Holiness Pope Francis. Included in the final conference declaration. “Adoption of policies to prohibit the sale of tobacco to all persons born after 2000, to ensure tobacco free millennium generations (as proposed by Tasmania and Singapore).”