The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #55038

Katherine H. Bryan-Jones, MPhilPH and Simon Chapman, PhD. School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building A27, Rm 129A, Sydney, 2006, Australia, +61 2 9351 7789, kbj@stanfordalumni.org

Objective: While Australia has been proactive in adopting tobacco control policies such as advertising bans and aggressive warning labels, legislation to protect workers from passive smoke has not received the same attention. Australian state legislatures have been slow to enact comprehensive smoking laws despite the accumulation of scientific evidence supporting the health risks of passive smoking and strong public support for legislative action. This study examines the political factors that have influenced the development passive smoking restrictions in the state of New South Wales (NSW).

Methods: Interviews with state legislators, bureaucrats, and tobacco control advocates.

Results: From the perspective of policymakers and advocates, we describe key factors that have promoted and/or inhibited passive smoking's placement on the NSW political agenda and why debate continues over the enactment of comprehensive restrictions. We identify the dynamics that existed in NSW which permitted the weakening of the 1997 Smoking Regulation Act to include a 5-year phase-in period and ventilation solutions; the rapid approval of the Smokefree Environment Act which banned smoking in restaurants immediately before the 2000 Olympics; and the current political environment, where legislation prohibiting smoking in all workplaces, including pubs and clubs, has yet to be enacted. We propose suggestions about what political and social elements will need to be in place in order to create smokefree environments for all NSW citizens.

Conclusion: This paper offers an international perspective on the political factors that influence tobacco control policies, and a perspective on why smokefree initiatives become, or fail to become, law.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:
• Identify factors that have impacted the development of passive smoking legislation in Australia.
• Evaluate the influence different political players have had in promoting or inhibiting passive smoking to/from the legislative agenda.
• Recognize the differences and similarities between creating tobacco control in Australia and the United States.

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, International

Related Web page: tobacco.health.usyd.edu.au/

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.