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Research funded by billionaire Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has shown Queenslanders overwhelmingly support restricting the sale of cigarettes to people aged 21 and over. According to independent polling conducted by Galaxy in four electorates, 75 percent of people in the Sunshine State would support legislation to this effect.In September, Forrest announced his $75 million Eliminate Cancer Initiative, which is investigating possible avenues for taking legal action against tobacco companies. It will also fund anti-smoking campaigns, and has recruited North Queensland Cowboys captain Jonathan Thurston as an ambassador.In a statement to News Corp, Forrest explained that the Initiative aims to curb tobacco-related cancer deaths in Australia.“Right now, half a million Queenslanders smoke every day,” Forrest said.“Half of them will die from their addiction…We know from research that 95 per cent of smokers start before they are 21. Research also tells us that if we can stop young people from taking up the habit by that age, they are unlikely to ever smoke.”
Thurston added that Indigenous Australians are disproportionately affected by smoking-related deaths.
“I’m alarmed that for my culture, indigenous Australians, it’s nearly double the national average out there smoking,” he said.
“I want our culture to be around for many years to come and I know that tobacco is a big issue in our communities and it’s killing our Indigenous Australians.”
Smoking increases a person’s risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, renal disease, eye disease and respiratory conditions such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, while tobacco use is gradually decreasing over time in Australia, there are still 2.6 million adults who consider themselves daily smokers—costing the public health system billions each year.Follow Kat on Twitter