Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Australia. It harms nearly every part of your body, contributes to financial distress and is a huge burden on our health system and the environment.
Make Smoking History works to reduce the prevalence of smoking in Western Australia by raising awareness of the harms of smoking. The program also shares the benefits of quitting, by providing information and resources to help people who smoke to quit. Make Smoking History also influences public opinion and policy on key smoking health issues.
WA Tobacco Symposium
State and national experts in tobacco control came together for a two-day symposium in Perth in a bid to revitalise tobacco control efforts to promote progress towards a tobacco free WA by 2030.
Our President, Dr Ruth Shean, said while the past few years governments have been focused on COVID-19, governments and policy makers must now commit to accelerating the decline in smoking rates which will boost the health of the population and reduce the burden on our healthcare system.
“Tobacco control in WA has benefited greatly from a strong commitment by the State Government, however, there are more than 200,000 West Australians still smoking,” Dr Shean said.
“Our goal is to halve smoking rates in WA by 2030, but it requires all tiers of government to work together to implement an evidence based, comprehensive approach,” she said
“We also need to ensure we continue to protect public health policy, including tobacco control policies from tobacco industry interference.
“The tobacco industry and their front groups are the biggest threat to global tobacco control and should have no seat at any policy making table.
“These next two days will provide a strong mandate for action so that we can save lives, improve health outcomes and ensure a tobacco free future for all West Australians.”
Dr Shean said the plan would include the following:
- Increase investment in integrated multi-channel, public education campaigns to extend their reach and impact.
- Increase investment in targeted programs to reach priority populations who continue to be significantly impacted by tobacco use.
- Embed best-practice smoking cessation care into primary care, hospitals, community, health, and corrective service organisations.
- Halve the number of outlets that sell tobacco.
- Expand smoke-free public areas and empower local governments to create more smoke-free spaces for their communities; and
- Explicitly prohibit the sale and advertising of e-cigarette devices and components (except in accordance with Therapeutic Goods Administration – TGA – requirements) and prohibit their use in public places where smoking is prohibited.
