Question Time: Quit Tasmania - Funding
Quit Tasmania - Funding
Ms BURNET question to MINISTER for HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH and WELLBEING, Ms ARCHER
[10.18 a.m.]
Tasmania has one of the highest smoking rates in the country and smoking rates amongst young Tasmanians are on the rise. We know sustained investment in anti‑tobacco and anti‑vaping campaigns are essential in tackling the rise in illicit tobacco and reducing smoking and vaping rates. Your government knows that because it's in your Tobacco Action Plan. Quit Tasmania is responsible for delivering these education campaigns but your government slashed their funding to deliver those campaigns by 50 per cent last year. Will you today commit to reinstating Quit Tasmania's public education funding in the May Budget?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question and her commitment to this important public health policy area. Our government continues to invest in preventive health measures to help people who use tobacco and e-cigarettes to quit. We fund the Cancer Council of Tasmania to deliver information and support for population screening and cancer prevention, taking the total amount of Department of Health funding for Cancer Council Tasmania to over $1.2 million in 2025‑26. The Cancer Council of Tasmania has also received funding injections totalling $1.43 million from the Australian Government to deliver a project that strengthens smoking and vaping prevention in Tasmania.
I'm advised that the federal government funding is for digital platforms to access support to quit, along with specialised youth councillors and free nicotine replacement therapy for priority population groups, including Tasmanians under 25 years.
As you mentioned, we've also previously provided time‑limited support to Cancer Council Tasmania and Quit Tasmania for specific campaigns to promote vaping prevention. Since this grant was provided, our government has banned the sale of vapes unless you have a prescription and we're also, as you know, clamping down on the sale of illicit tobacco.
We're currently developing the 20‑Year Preventive Health Strategy and I've encouraged Cancer Council Tasmania to continue engaging in that process, as tobacco cessation and vaping will be a focus of this work.
Supplementary Question
Ms BURNET - The question was about committing to reinstating Quit Tasmania's public education funding in the May Budget, and we know that the government has been able to provide some service providers with certainty about reinstating their funding. Why can't you provide that certainty for Quit Tasmania today?
Mrs ARCHER - Because our Budget will be announced on 21 May and that will be the budget process. As I have said in the answer to the question, I've also encouraged the Cancer Council and Quit Tasmania to engage with us in relation to the Preventive Health Strategy, which we will have more to say about later in the year as well.
50 Cent Bus Fares
[11.50 a.m.]
Ms BURNET (Clark) - Deputy Speaker, I thank Mr O'Byrne for bringing this important focus back on to public transport and 50c fares. I will speak about three areas, starting with ticketing. I still need to work through this in my mind as to whether 50c fares are the best solution or, as the Greens have articulated, making public transport free.
I was gobsmacked when the government bravely came out with free bus fares until 1 July to tackle the fuel crisis for many struggling Tasmanians. It has been welcome. The uptake has been sensational. We have heard the government talk about this. We have heard the rest of the House talk about this. It is so important.
What I'm concerned about with 50c fares is the ticketing. Mr O'Byrne himself has brought this up many times, particularly in Estimates. The Cubic ticketing system started off at $8 million, is now over $65 million and is still not delivered. There is no sign of that being delivered any time soon. I wonder if it's worth putting in this kind of ticketing system given the high cost.
The second issue for me is that there has to be a solution for public transport by the time we get to 1 July. We cannot have a lack of analysis of this amazing uptake by so many Tasmanians in our cities and on services like Kinetic and others up in the north-west. We need to make sure those services are there, but also that the equity issue is addressed.
Whatever happens, there is a need to look at making sure public transport is free and accessible for students. Students are struggling in a cost‑of-living crisis, particularly under‑18 students. There are those students balancing jobs - and a shout‑out to all of those students who are trying to make ends meet, trying to get to uni, school or college. It's so difficult. It is important that public transport is made accessible in the long term and free for those struggling and those on pensions.
Look at the McKell Institute's and the Productivity Commission's previous work on public transport. Public transport is a fundamental driver for our cities. We have talked about the equity issue. It must continue. Again, I compliment the government on the great work with making public transport free. To my mind, that is a better way. Or making it so accessible, such as with tap‑and‑go in other cities like Sydney. I was up there recently, using tap‑and‑go getting onto the ferry. It is a totally integrated public transport system with buses, catching the train to the airport, and so forth. We can do it. We can do this for our community and we must do it.