Cancer Council Queensland has applauded Logan City Council for ensuring the new Beenleigh Town Square will be completely smoke free upon its completion in late 2015.
Logan City Council today endorsed the development of the local law, bringing the square in line with Ipswich Mall and Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall which are both successfully smoke free for the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift thanked the Council for acting on the concerns of local residents.
“Community support for smoke free spaces across Queensland is higher than ever – and we congratulate Logan City Council for putting the health of locals first,” Ms Clift said.
“A ban on smoking in the new town square will protect locals from the lethal effects of smoking, enabling visitors to enjoy the space with a breath of fresh air.
“About one death a day is caused by second-hand smoking, a heartbreaking statistic that reinforces the need to protect people from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
“The smoke free square will encourage existing smokers to quit, protect locals from the dangers of second-hand smoke and prevent young people from taking up the lethal habit.
“We thank the Council for their leadership, and hope to see other local councils follow suit.”
Cancer Council Queensland has asked the State Government to urgently introduce smoke free public places to protect all Queenslanders from the harmful effects of tobacco.
“We urgently need State law that ensures bus stops, taxi ranks, ferry terminals, pedestrian malls and all education campuses are smoke free,” Ms Clift said.
“Smoking is estimated to cost the Queensland economy more than $6 billion each year, causing more than 3,700 deaths and resulting in over 36,000 hospitalisations.
“Of serious concern, smoking-related illness and disease is responsible for one in five male deaths and one in 10 female deaths in Queensland each year, and 46 per cent of these are people younger than 75 years of age.
“Community support for smoke free spaces is higher than ever, with majority non-smokers and 14 per cent of the adult population smoking daily.”
Smokers are urged to call the Quitline on 13 QUIT (13 7848) for help with quitting.
More information about Cancer Council Queensland is available via 13 11 20 or www.cancerqld.org.au.
For more information or interviews, please contact:
Katie Clift, Executive Manager, Media and Spokesperson, Cancer Council Queensland
Ph: (07) 3634 5372 or 0409 001 171