Ms BURNET – Minister, just another issue that’s dear to your heart. Tasmanians are dying at a considerable rate from smoking‑related diseases – cardiovascular and respiratory diseases – and clearly there are anti‑smoking measures taken up across Tasmania. Reducing smoking in CBDs and other public places can be effective in reducing smoking rates, and yet changes of by‑laws through each council is costly and clunky. It’s a really clunky system. How can you look to making smoke‑free areas more uniform across Tasmania?
Mr BARNETT – Thank you very much for the question. Yes, I have a very special interest in this space, not just as Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, but as a Tasmanian. You have 500 Tasmanians die every year as a result of smoking. so it is a priority for our government. I really appreciate what you’re saying. I’ll be looking at every and all options to reduce smoking in Tasmania, and likewise, you would have seen my vaping reform measures announced in recent times with the bill accordingly tabled, and seeking support around not just this table but the parliament for those important reforms, which I think will deliver better healthcare outcomes. Referring to your specific question about providing more smoke‑free areas, that’s certainly on my agenda and it’s something I’ll be raising with the department and seeing what more we can do, as a government and as a community, to improve our smoking rates.
