Big tobacco has moved into the legal sights of the State Government, with Health Minister Lawrence Springborg saying smokers were "putting pressure on our already burdened system", and indicated legal action was possible. Source: The Courier-Mail
HEALTH Minister Lawrence Springborg has left the door open to launching lawsuits against tobacco companies for the cost of smoking-related illness to Queensland Health.
As exclusive new figures reveal scores of Queensland children are regularly being exposed to passive smoking from their parents, Mr Springborg also raised the prospect of even tougher laws to control smoking.
Mr Springborg said smokers were "putting pressure on our already burdened system", and indicated legal action against tobacco giants was possible.
Latest estimates show the cost of smoking to Queensland society was $6.3 billion in health costs, lost productivity and premature death.
$200 on-the-spot fines fines - and increased chances of harming their child's health - not enough to stop parents smoking around kids
"Options for legal action would need to be considered based on specific advice but Queensland Health would welcome any opportunity that assists in addressing the costs of smoking on the health sector," said Mr Springborg.
One in seven deaths in the state are due to smoking, according to latest Queensland Health figures, with an average 3422 deaths a year.
Moves to turn the legal screws on tobacco companies were backed by Professor Mike Daube, who chaired the Commonwealth's committee that recommended plain packaging for tobacco products.
Prof Daube, president of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health, said it was time state governments considered US-style legal action against the companies.
Smoking in Queensland: By the numbers.
Major US tobacco companies in 1998 agreed with 46 US state attorneys-general to give them $200 billion over 25 years and settle lawsuits for treating sick smokers.
Prof Daube said: "We have known for decades that cigarettes are a wonderfully efficient killing machine. State governments should . . . emulate the US states that won hundreds of billions of dollars by suing tobacco companies for the costs of smoking."
In addtion to exploring legal action, Mr Springborg said the State Government was also prepared to consider tougher laws on smoking.
Smoking bans already exist for indoor and outdoor public places, as well as tough restrictions on retail advertising, display and promotion of tobacco products.
Anti-smoking groups have lobbied to extend laws to limit the number of outlets selling tobacco, and make smoking a classifiable element in movies.
Figures released to The Sunday Mail show since new laws were introduced in Queensland in 2010 making it an offence to smoke in a vehicle with a child under 16 years, 1412 drivers had been slapped with a $200 on-the-spot fine.
"Should we and could we go further, I am prepared to look at options with my inter-state colleagues," said Mr Springborg.
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