Reflections on a Career in Tobacco Control: Why the Fight Against Smoking Still Matters

My journey in public health began in tobacco control, a field where Australia has long been a global leader. In the early 1990s, I worked at the then Anti-Cancer Foundation of South Australia as a QUIT counsellor. It was a time of bold action, when we conducted compliance checks on retailers who sold cigarettes to underage children. These “stings” were more than enforcement; they were a statement that protecting young people from tobacco was non-negotiable.

Later, at QUIT in Melbourne, I had the privilege of working on initiatives that shaped public perception, smokefree restaurants, smokefree cars, and the removal of tobacco advertising and sponsorship from sports and recreation. These were pioneering efforts that helped shift smoking from a social norm to a public health concern.

In 2004 I worked as a senior health promotion officer in Dublin, Ireland. I witnessed a historic moment: Ireland became the first country in the world to implement comprehensive smokefree legislation in all enclosed workplaces, including bars and restaurants. The public support was overwhelming, and the ripple effect was global. Australia followed suit in 2006, introducing similar legislation and graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging, images that starkly illustrated the consequences of smoking.

Fast forward nearly two decades, and I’ve just returned from Turkey and the Middle East, where smoking remains prevalent. Public ashtrays, taxi drivers smoking, and designated smoking rooms, often full, reminded me how far Australia has come. In the WHO European Region, nearly 28% of adults still use tobacco. In contrast, Australia’s smoking rate is now below 10%.

That’s a milestone worth celebrating.

But the work is far from over.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. It is directly linked to a wide range of serious diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and numerous other cancers such as throat, mouth, and bladder cancer. The damage caused by tobacco smoke affects nearly every organ in the body. What makes tobacco particularly insidious is its addictive nature—nicotine hooks users quickly and powerfully, making quitting a significant challenge. This addiction is not just physical but psychological, often requiring comprehensive support to overcome.

Starting July 1, 2025, Australia’s tobacco products will undergo significant changes. These reforms are part of new legislation designed to further reduce smoking rates and protect Australians from tobacco-related harm. Products will taste and feel different, flavours like menthol, rum, and clove, which mask the harshness of tobacco and make it more addictive, will be banned. Misleading descriptors like “smooth” and “gold” will be removed, and packaging will be standardized in size and shape to deter appeal, especially among young people.

Each cigarette pack will contain 20 sticks, and roll-your-own pouches will have 30 grams of tobacco. Unique filters and accessories will be banned, and updated health warnings will be prominently displayed. New information cards inside packaging will offer support for those ready to quit.

These changes do not make smoking safer, no level of tobacco use is safe. But they do make it harder for tobacco companies to attract new users and easier for current smokers to quit.

As someone who has spent a career in tobacco control, I know that every policy, every campaign, and every conversation matters. Reducing the prevalence of smoking isn’t just a public health goal, it’s a moral imperative. It means fewer lives lost, fewer families affected, and a healthier future for all Australians.

For more information: https://www.health.gov.au/topics/smoking-vaping-and-tobacco/tobacco-control?language=und&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMABhZGlkAAAGMCxnnDEBHmnImSOaXbtfCxCGGDQEc6yK_rgNpszE-LeT-9b4xgzppxZ0qzwihEsnD1II_aem_M7C0iliyjochGJVigNDbyw&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=fb&utm_id=6803972808961&utm_content=6803972820961&utm_term=6803972820761&utm_campaign=6803972808961