Launch of 1995 Quit (smoking) campaign

24/5/95

Smoking costs Western Australia almost a billion dollars a year with nearly 85,000 hospital bed days used by people suffering smoking-caused diseases.

Health Minister Graham Kierath said this today when he launched the 1995 Quit campaign.

The campaign features television commercials with comedian John Cleese and the visit to Perth of Dr Victor DeNoble noted for his ground-breaking research into the addictiveness of tobacco.

Mr Kierath said it was surprising that the debate on the pros and cons of smoking was still in the public arena because addictiveness had been proved and the cost of human life was appalling.

"Some 1,800 Western Australians are killed prematurely each year from smoking," he said.

"That, in itself, is a terrible toll.

"In addition, we must remember the pain and suffering felt by the families of the dead."

Mr Kierath said the overall bill for smoking-related illness topped $9 billion a year for Australia and $900 million for WA.

Health already accounted for more than a quarter of the State Budget and smoking was an enormous impost on the taxpayer.

"The tobacco lobby has switched back to old territory - arguing for the freedom of the individual," the Minister said.

"They had better not come and talk to me about 'freedom'.

"Are these tobacco producers any different from the drug pushers who spread heroin and amphetamines on the streets of Perth?

"If we look at the medical cost, the results of the street pusher and the tobacco pushers are the same - disaster.

"That is why the Quit Campaign is so important."

The Minister said that since it started in 1984, Quit had succeeded in obtaining a 21 per cent reduction in smoking by adults.

However, new smokers were being recruited through peer pressure and marketing techniques.

This year's campaign will:

·       target smokers aged 25 to 45 who have tried to quit or now want to quit;

·       produce specific strategies for older smokers and Aboriginal smokers;

·       feature John Cleese in two television commercials which start tonight;

·       radio commercials; and -

·       involve research scientist Dr Victor DeNoble in media interviews and public addresses.

Dr DeNoble formerly worked with the tobacco giant Philip Morris.

His research proving the addictiveness of tobacco was suppressed by Philip Morris until a US Congressional hearing last year.

Dr DeNoble's work exposed the multinational tobacco companies' involvement in one of consumerism's great cover-ups.

They continually denied tobacco was addictive - until Dr DeNoble was able to break his silence at the Congressional hearing.

Mr Kierath commended both Dr DeNoble and the AMA for supporting Quit.

"And as a former smoker I know that quitting is not easy - but it is worth the effort," he said.

Media contact:  Brian Coulter 481  2133  /  222  9595