Silence on Zone Allowances
A few weeks ago the Queensland State Treasurer Jackie Trad, raised the issue of the recommendations from the Productivity Commission to the Federal Government that Zone Allowances be abolished and some of the other incentives given to people who live and work in Regional Queensland also be reduced and abolished.
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The State Treasurer appealed to Regional Queenslanders to fight these proposals.
The next edition of the North West Star contained a letter to the Editor from Tony McGrady again highlighting the massive adverse impact such a policy would have on every person who lives in Regional Queensland and he offered to join with any person/s who were prepared to lead our community against these proposals.
I note in the Star some smaller Councils have voiced their concerns against these proposals but where is the leadership from our Mount Isa elected people?
Have we heard a word on this issue from our Federal Member Bob Katter, NOT ONE. Or how about Robbie Katter again not a word or how about our Mayor and her Council. I can't recall a single word of opposition to these proposals.
Where is the leadership? We never hear from Mr Katter Sen. So, let's forget that one. The Young Mr Katter is busy posing for photos alongside police cars and taking any other photo opportunity. And of course, our Mayor and her Council are far too busy with Christmas decorations to worry about the REAL issues facing the people of our City.
I think we may have missed the boat on this issue and let us never let these three elected so called leaders ever forget it.
On a positive note the Local ALP branch presented a submission to the recent Senate enquiry on Northern Australia seeking an increase in Zone allowances.
Kendall Santillan, Mount Isa
Editor's note: To be fair to the mayor of Mount Isa, she expressed support for zone allowances in an interview prior to Christmas however I did not get around to writing this up before the holidays.
Indigenous smoking rates are an indictment
According to the recent ABS report, Indigenous smoking rates have not declined since 2012-13. Currently 43.4% of Indigenous adults smoke, compared to 45.8% in 2012-13. These statistics are an indictment on Australia's public health policies.
The Indigenous smoking rate is three times the non-Indigenous rate and the gap has not decreased since 1995, in spite of the Closing the Gap program and hundreds of millions spent on ineffective strategies.
Indigenous people are disproportionally harmed by smoking which accounts for 23% of the Indigenous/non-Indigenous health gap. It is also a major cause of financial stress and poverty.
Like other Australian smokers, Indigenous people are perversely denied legal access to the most effective quitting aid, vaping nicotine. Only 1.4% of Australian Indigenous adults currently vape.
In contrast, the vaping rate by Maori adults is 8.1% according to the recent New Zealand Annual Health Survey.
Vaping is contributing to a much faster decline in smoking in that population.
Vaping is twice as effective as a quitting aid as nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine patches and gum and is at least 95% safer than smoking, according to the UK Royal College of Physicians.
It is no surprise that vaping is the most popular quitting aid in countries where it is available. Words are no longer sufficient - it is time for action. If the Australian government is genuinely concerned about Indigenous smoking rates, it should allow legal access to nicotine for vaping.
Continuing to deny access to these products is not only unscientific, but unethical.
Conjoint Associate Professor Colin Mendelsohn (UNSW)
Foundation Chairman, Australian Tobacco Harm Reduction Association
