New Reforms to Help Smokers Quit the Habit in 2013
Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has said smokers who had made a New Year’s resolution to kick the habit would benefit from another burst of anti-smoking TV ads, larger graphic health warnings on the new plain packs, and new free smart phone apps.
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3 January 2013
Giving up smoking has been made a little easier, says Health Minister Tanya Plibersek.
Ms Plibersek today said smokers who’d made a New Year’s resolution to kick the habit would benefit from another burst of anti-smoking TV ads, larger graphic health warnings on the new plain packs, and new free smart phone apps.
“Any smoker can tell you how hard it is to quit – most of them try numerous times before finally kicking the habit. Given smoking is the largest single preventable cause of disease and death in Australia, we need to assist smokers to give up where and when we can.”
“Australia now has the toughest and most comprehensive anti-smoking measures in the world, and in 2013 we hope to reduce the appeal of smoking and give more support to smokers who are ready to give up.”
Ms Plibersek said the new plain-packaging laws, which came into force on 1 December, had so far led to 15 complaints, all made against retailers.
“The Department of Health and Ageing is investigating the complaints and has found some to be unsubstantiated. Where evidence suggested non-compliance, warnings were issued and educational material about the legislation was made available.”
Individuals selling tobacco in non-compliant packaging can face fines of up to $220,000. A corporation risks penalties of up to $1.1 million. The complaint line number for non-compliant tobacco packaging is 1800 062 971.
Ms Plibersek said new and existing tobacco control measures included:
- Another round of the anti-smoking ads aimed at the general community. The ads will appear on TV, radio and in print and social media.
- The free Quit Now: My QuitBuddy app and the Quit for You, Quit for Two app for pregnant women, which have been downloaded more than 60,000 times since their introduction last year.
- The plain-packaging laws, which came into force on 1 December, removed tobacco company logos and include new and larger graphic health warnings.
- The listing of nicotine patches on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which in 2013 cuts the price of patches down to just $5.90 a month for concessional patients or $36.10 a month for general patients.
- The national telephone counselling service Quitline on 13 78 48 is available even during the holiday period. The Quit Now website has many tips and information to help people quit, including the Quit Now Calculator.
“Some 15% of Australians are daily smokers today, compared with about 50% after the Second World War. Despite the fall in the proportion of Australians smoking, more than 15,000 Australians die every year from smoking-related illnesses. Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of disease and death in Australia.”
“That is why the Gillard Government is pushing forward with a six-year national strategy in which the Government, the states and territories, non-government organisations and the community at large work together to further reduce the harm caused by tobacco.”
The National Tobacco Strategy 2012-2018 outlines priority areas for action - including making tobacco products less affordable, eliminating remaining advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products and considering further regulation of the contents, product disclosure and supply of tobacco products and alternative nicotine delivery systems.
The Wait TV ad, which will be showing again this month, targets the general community and depicts a father who has been told he has a shadow on the lung waiting agonisingly for his results.
The apps are available at:
Quit Now: My QuitBuddy
Quit for You, Quit for Two
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