TASMANIA HAS WORST SMOKING RATES IN NATION

Campaign Funding Ratio Also Falls Behind

The Tasmanian Greens today urged that improved resourcing of anti tobacco campaigns is prioritised saying that Tasmania is falling behind the rest of the nation in reducing smoking rates.

Greens Health spokesperson Paul O’Halloran MP said that tackling tobacco addiction is a key public health policy issue for current and future generations, as well as for the bottom line of the state’s health budget.

“Despite having the worst smoking rates for the nation, Tasmania is only spending one third of the recommended amount on public awareness and social marketing campaigns,” Mr O’Halloran said.

“A recent ABS Australian Health Survey 2011-12 shows that Tasmania now has the highest smoking rates across the states. The Australian average for current smokers as a proportion of the population is 18.1%, yet Tasmania’s smoking rate is a massive 23.2%.”

“The data also shows that Tasmania is falling behind in reducing smoking rates when compared to the rest of the nation. The state’s 2004-05 smoking rates were 2.2 per cent over the national average, but five years later our smoking rates are now over 5% above the national average.”

“We are going badly backwards.”

“Tasmania’s current tobacco control spending is approximately $1.5 million, which is only one third of the recognised best practise amount, as defined by the Commonwealth National Tobacco Strategy 2004-09. This Strategy recommends that anti-smoking campaigns need to be funded at the rate of $7.40 per capita, which equates to $3.7 million per year for Tasmania.”

“The Minister needs to urgently review and refocus the state’s anti-tobacco strategies, to ensure that our resourcing is targeted for maximum impact. We recognise that there are real budget restrictions but ensuring we invest wisely in preventing smoking uptake, and reducing smoking numbers, is a long term investment in both the health of our community and the health budget bottom-line.”

Reference: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Health Survey 2011-12.
Paul O’Halloran MP Greens Health spokesperson