This brings to 34 the number of countries to sign the international agreement, which is designed to reduce the devastating health and economic impact of cigarette smoking. With just six more ratifications, the agreement becomes international law, requiring that countries that ratify it implement comprehensive tobacco measures.
Dr Shigeru Omi, WHO's Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said, "Australia has provided excellent leadership on tobacco control, as well as during the intense FCTC negotiations." He added: "Its decision to ratify brings us one step closer to protecting present and future generations from the destructive force of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke pollution."
Australia has been active since the 1970s in promoting and implementing tobacco control measures and comprehensive strategies. The Commonwealth of Australia, its states and territories, and key nongovernmental organizations have worked to institute measures such as strong smoke-free policies, increased taxes on tobacco products, and graphic health warning labels.
Australia typifies countries experiencing the later stages of the global tobacco epidemic: although smoking rates among most population subgroups have leveled or dropped, smoking rates are still high among young people. Over half of all Aboriginal people smoke. Almost one fifth of all Australians aged 14 and above smoke. Smoking is the single greatest cause of death and disease in Australia, causing an estimated 19 000 deaths each year. It is a key risk factor for ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and lung cancer, the three diseases that cause the most deaths in Australia.