More than $2.4million in funding to continue to make smoking history

The McGowan Government has announced more than $2.4million in funding to deliver Make Smoking History over the next three years.

Our Cancer Prevention and Research Director, Melissa Ledger, said that tobacco use takes the lives of around 1,500 Western Australians every year, so this investment is vital.

“These funds will continue to make possible multi-channel public education antismoking campaigns, support clients accessing community, health, and corrective services to quit and rapid research related to e-cigarettes and other novel tobacco products, and the industries that profit from them,” Ms Ledger said.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Department of Health and Healthway for their unwavering commitment to Make Smoking History over two decades.

“In 2000, Cancer Council WA launched Target 15 (now referred to as Make Smoking History) with the ambitious goal of reducing the prevalence of adult smoking in WA to 15 per cent by 2010. Around that time the current smoking rate was about 22 per cent. Our current smoking rate is now at 10 per cent.

“Make Smoking History campaigns have been key to this success.

“Evidence shows that properly funded hard hitting mass media campaigns drive down smoking rates by both prompting quit attempts and reducing uptake and increasing public support for smoke free policy.

“Media campaigns form a very strong component of our overall approach, and it is a combination of many strategies working together that saves lives.

“Tobacco use remains unacceptably high in some groups of the WA population. This funding will enable us to continue to work alongside community, health, and corrective services to make sustainable changes that improve the health and wellbeing of their clients and staff through smoke free policies and quit support.

“Cancer Council WA is committed to leading tobacco control efforts through the Make Smoking History campaign. Together with our key partners and stakeholders we will continue our commitment to saving lives.”