Cancer Council WA and the Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) have welcomed the Department of Justice’s commitment to make all West Australian prisons smoke-free by the end of 2026, marking a significant step forward in protecting the health of people in prison, staff, and their loved ones.
The staged rollout follows the successful implementation of smoke-free policies across all four metropolitan women’s prisons – Bandyup, Melaleuca, Boronia, and Wandoo – as well as Bentley Academy.
Cancer Council WA Cancer Prevention and Research Director, Melissa Ledger, said the statewide rollout would bring WA in line with all other states and territories that have already implemented smoke-free prisons. “We applaud the Department of Justice for its strong commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of people in prison and the staff who work with them,” Ms Ledger said.
Smoking rates remain disproportionately high among people in prison, with almost three in four reporting being current smokers*. We also know that almost half of those want to quit. Smoke-free prisons provide a healthier and safer environment that supports those efforts.
Ms Ledger said making all WA prisons smoke-free would deliver significant long-term health, financial and social benefits.
“Not only will smoke-free prisons reduce the risk of heart disease, respiratory illness and cancer among people in prison, but they will also help protect staff by providing a safer workplace, in line with the Work Health and Safety Act 2020,” she said.
ACOSH CEO, Laura Hunter, said the announcement was a crucial public health reform that would help reduce tobacco-related harm.
“ACOSH commends the WA Government for taking this important step towards smoke-free prisons,” Ms Hunter said.
“With the right support this reform can deliver real, long-term health benefits.
“Staff and people in custody need access to stop smoking medications, behavioural counselling, and culturally appropriate health programs beyond the rollout period.
“This is a chance not just to eliminate smoking in prisons, but to improve health, wellbeing, and rehabilitation outcomes for everyone involved.”
Ms Hunter said evidence from other states also shows that up to 94 per cent of people who quit smoking in prison relapse within two months of release, highlighting the need for stronger post-release support.
“ACOSH would like to see this momentum continue with thought put into a comprehensive post-release public health package to prevent relapse and sustain health gains beyond custody,” she said.
Since 2019, Cancer Council WA has been working with several prisons across the state to support people in prison and staff to quit smoking. Both organisations emphasised that ongoing access to tailored quit support will be essential to ensure the rollout is effective and sustainable.
“A coordinated approach that equips staff and people in prison with the tools and resources they need to quit will help secure lasting benefits from this important reform,” Ms Ledger said.
Background information
- The Northern Territory was the first Australian jurisdiction to introduce smoke-free prisons in 2013, followed by Queensland in 2014, then Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales in 2015, South Australia in 2019 and finally the ACT in 2023.
- In WA, the introduction of smoke-free prisons began in 2022. Bandyup, Melaleuca, Boronia and Wandoo women’s prisons and Bentley academy are all smoke-free.
- The remaining 14 prisons in WA will be smoke-free by the end of 2026 (six in the metropolitan area and eight in the regions).
- *The health of people in Australia’s prisons 2022 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) found that smoking is more prevalent among prison entrants due to the health issues and disadvantages they often experience, with almost three in four reporting being current smokers. Female entrants (75 per cent) were more likely than males (70 per cent) to be current smokers. Almost one in two (48 per cent) prison entrants who were current smokers said that they would like to quit.
