From: Nick Chugg
Sent: Monday, 30 August 2010 7:56 PM
To: Public Health
Subject: As no government body actually listens to the public this is probably a
waste of time and money!
To whom it may concern,
I will state for the record that I m currently a smoker, that understands the
negative health effects of smoking. I also try not to affect anyone else with my
tobacco smoke.
What is completely missing from the current studies on smoking are the other
pollutants in the atmosphere, both indoors and outdoors.
If you do not have any measurement of the effects of vehicle emissions,
household emissions (VOC’s) or the emissions of polluting industries on the
effects of health how can you, with any scientific credibility, accurately and
beyond doubt measure the effects of smoking, second-hand smoke or environmental
tobacco smoke (EMT). I recall at least one study in NSW that cited car exhaust
as being equivalent to smoking one pack of cigarettes, per day, in the Greater
Sydney Area. Without having any baseline data for studies on all pollutants your
research, and limited studies on tobacco smoke, are flawed. I see that in the
reference section there are no references related to other pollutants; nor is
there any references for the counter arguments! Very poor research Roscoe!!! It
is hard to agree with an argument, no matter how persuasive, if it cannot at
least debate all side of the argument! Until studies are conducted looking at
the effects of say vehicle emissions and noise pollution on Alfresco dining, you
can in no way state, truthfully, the effects of EMT.
Australia is the most regulated country in the developed (western) world;
without any bill of rights for its people. Perhaps if we actually showed
compassion and tried to help the less fortunate, such as Indigenous Australians
or those suffering from addiction, rather than just regulate. People prefer self
determination! Do we actually live in a democracy or a dictatorship? Increasing
the cost does not help people in lower socioeconomic positions who are currently
addicted to nicotine. Nor has the government directed the entire revenue it
collects form tobacco (or alcohol or gambling) towards dealing with the issue in
a informative democratic way.
While I would have to agree with most of the proposals, I do not agree with the
approach of the discussion paper.
If you truly want to get to the heart of the matter you actually need to repeal
and change the legislation of the Corporations Act, take away the power of large
multinational corporations (such as tobacco, alcohol and gambling) and give it
back to the people.
Just remember that prohibition has never worked! The more you tell or push young
people about an issue the more they will rebel. The continuing attack on smokers
does no good and just divides the community. Education is and always will be the
key! Have a look at Portugal’s drug reform policies, the decriminalisation of a
lot of their illicit drugs has actually reduced participation and consumption
rates.
Smoking and drinking are not particularly pleasant habits to start, you actually
need to acquire the taste/ develop the habit! You need to engender social change
through choice and education, not rules and legislation. I can guarantee you
will not find many smokers who actually endorse smoking to anyone they like J.
The only way I could actually support all your reforms are if you conduct all
the relevant studies, very unlikely; particularly as this would need to be done
by independent scientific research organisations; and would be far too costly
for the measly budget DHHS receives for these enterprises. It unfortunately
just seems like another attack on a minority group, backed and pushed/promoted
by a lobby/minority group! Why should we trust a government funded body that is
unwilling to look at, or just ignores, all the possible effects of pollution,
particularly in waterways from forestry activities, or the emission form
vehicles and industry? Or a government that refuses to listen to the people,
when a 70% majority wanted to end the logging of Old Growth forests in
Tasmania’s last referendum!
People have the right to choose, regardless of what the government and lobby
groups may want to dictate!
Life is meant to be lived!
Liberty and Freedom of choice, are the inherent rights of all humanity – even if
you may not agree with everyone’s choice – and providing that choice does not
hurt harm or affect another person’s Liberty and Freedom of choice!
Nick Chugg
Student – Bachelor of Science, University of Tasmania
Personal submission
Authors interest – Public
P.S.
Sounds more like another revenue raising approach, for councils!
P.P.S.
The inherent problems with data collection, using a parallel such as speeding
research ; If you install more camera’s and the government tells the police to
increase its anti-speeding campaigns you statistically get an increase in
speeding, thereby justifying the added funds you have put towards the speeding
campaign – there is a feedback loop – a self fulfilling prophecy!