1 July 2009

Dr. David Thomas, Head of the Preventable Chronic Disease Division at Menzies School of Health Research, has welcomed the start of the Department of Health and Family’s smoke free hospital policy today which bans all smoking on hospital campuses, but also provides support and resources to help staff quit.

“This is an important step in protecting patients, staff and visitors at Territory hospitals” says Dr Thomas.

However, Dr Thomas goes on to add that these positive changes need to put in context as the Northern Territory lags far behind all other jurisdictions of Australia in protecting its citizens from the dangers of smoking.

Today in New South Wales, for example, people will no longer be able to smoke in cars carrying children.

The Northern Territory is steps behind in policy despite having the highest rate smoking rates in Australia with 31% of adult smokers. Rates amongst Indigenous Territorians are even higher at 56%.

This year the Northern Territory was considered so far out of step with the rest of Australia that it didn’t even qualify for the annual Dirty Ashtray Award it has won many times before from the Australian Medical Association and the Australian Council on Smoking and Health.

“Territorians need to be protected from the dangers of second hand smoke in pubs and clubs and children need to be protected from the dangers of second hand smoke in cars” warns Dr Thomas who is also pushing for banning the “candy wall” displays of cigarettes behind counters in supermarkets.

“The Health Minister announced last year that the NT would get new tobacco legislation however this is yet to materialize” Dr Thomas said.

Menzies’ main building is located on the Royal Darwin Hospital campus and will also be smoke free as of today. Several Menzies staff have taken up the offer of financial assistance to help them stop and Menzies is committed to a safe and healthy workplace for all employees and visitors.

Dr. David Thomas heads up the Indigenous Tobacco Research Program which looks at tobacco control policy and practice in Aboriginal health as well as monitoring and evaluating the impact of tobacco control activities.