Today I helped to launch a powerful new campaign warning Tasmanians of the dangers of smoking.
The ‘16 Cancers’ campaign, an initiative of Quit Tasmanian and Cancer Council Tasmania, includes graphic television advertisements showing the terrible impacts of smoking-related cancers.
Smoking can and does have appalling effects on the human body. Campaigns such as this one, which depict the full, shocking impact which smoking-related cancers have on quality of life, have been proven effective in reducing the rates of smoking.
We must continue to inform Tasmanians, particularly children and young people, of the deadly effects of smoking. I thank Quit Tasmania and Cancer Council Tasmania for their continuing efforts in the fight against smoking-related disease.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has set the challenging target of making Tasmania the healthiest state in Australia by 2025 and reducing the rate of smoking will be a key part of this.
That is why we are working to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based five-year preventative health strategy for Tasmania. A committee of the Health Council of Tasmania led by Dr Tim Greenaway is already working on the development of this strategy.