BY PETER BAKER
HOBART — On September 11, 150 members of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMWU) held a march and rally drawing attention to their campaign for smoke-free work places.
The protest action was called to put pressure on the Tasmanian Labor government to act on a health department report issued in June recommending a total ban on smoking in bars and gambling areas.
The report, which reviewed the 2001 Public Health Amendment (Smoke-Free Areas) Act, stated that existing laws do not adequately protect the health of workers and customers and that there was no sign of the hotels and gaming industry acting to do so. Nearly 90% of submissions to the review supported a total ban on smoking in enclosed areas.
The Australian Hotels Association and Federal Hotels have lobbied hard for the government not to introduce further smoking bans in their premises.
From Green Left Weekly, September 17, 2003.
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