Better health and ageing for all Australians

Tobacco

The National Tobacco Strategy aims to improve the health of all Australians by eliminating or reducing their exposure to tobacco in all its forms.

In this section:

The most recent national figures on tobacco prevalence from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that daily smoking rates for smokers aged over 14 years have fallen from 19.5% in 2001 to 17.4% in 2004. This reduced rate is among the lowest in the world and has contributed to Australia achieving one of the highest average life expectancies of any country.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is the first treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization. The Convention entered into force on 27 February 2005, making the provisions of the treaty legally binding for the first 40 Contracting Parties. Australia ratified the FCTC on 27 October 2004.