Brian McBride ejected from Nick Greiner's Olympic function

NSMA members have staged two more protests against that God fearing Catholic gentleman who once implored us to vote for him as Premier of the State of NSW because he was a true leader with a conscience and a zeal for doing good. He was a person whose Harvard education and business skills meant he really knew what the problems of the world were all about and, given our support, he would make a better world for us and our children. His pronouncements on how to introduce better health and educational systems fooled the best of us. NSMA is really escalating our attacks on this hypocrite to prove that you can't be a respected leader of our Olympic Management team while you are a paid merchant of death as the Chairman of a tobacco company killing 18,000 Australians every year.

The new TV series on "The Tobacco Wars" which started on Channel 2 in Sydney on 20 January, shows the appalling dishonesty and criminal behaviour of these people over nearly fifty years and yet they still expect the public to show them "respect". They won't get any from us and we are determined to get the dishonourable Nick Greiner sacked from the Olympics Board of management, SOCOG.

(For overseas readers who may not know the political history Nick Greiner was also judged guilty of corrupt behaviour in appointing his mate to a plum job in return for a political advantage and was forced to resign as Premier of NSW.)

You would think that would be enough to realise that there is eventually a reality check on such a things as integrity and honesty in public life and that you can only fool all of the people some of the time. But no, Nick has happily embarked on a new career perpetuating the biggest con job in modern history. That is, tobacco doesn't harm people and even if it did, it does not matter very much. Anyway, thinking people don't blame the tobacco industry, they blame the idiots who are stupid enough to take it up! It is all someone else's problem, you can't blame us silver tailed north shore executive types with our shiny Order of Australia medals proudly displayed. We are just doing our job and trying to make a crust - it's every Aussie's right.

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?

We are not attacking the industry workers. We are not out there waving placards at the 38 hour a week battlers in the factories at Pagewood and Granville. But we are attacking the credibility of people like Greiner (and Zampatti and Cutler) for several reasons. Firstly, Greiner took the job at a time when the proven guilty lies and deception of the industry were well known to all especially well informed people like him. Secondly, as the new Chairman of WD & HO Wills, now BAT Australia, he is not just a worker, rather he is the captain of the ship. He develops and directs the strategies which will best ensure that Government anti smoking programs will fail or be neutered and that the tobacco industry will continue its murderous mission.

Thirdly, he knows the industry are using his profile as a "respected" ex-Premier and his labyrinth of old boy connections through the Liberal party, to further their aims and objectives. He knows he is being paid to deliver the goods and he has no conscience about doing so. This hypocrisy from a man who knew the health statistics backwards before he took the job shows the depths to which some people will stoop for their dirty dollars. The Australian public are sheep if they are not affronted by this public display of hypocrisy !

GREINER IS STAR SPEAKER FOR SOCOG

It would be bad enough if he simply slunk off into dark corners with the other tobacco cockroaches and kept a low profile. But no, again Nick has such a low view of the public's intelligence (or is he paying them back for dumping him?) that he thinks he can go forth with a fanfare of trumpets to spread the Olympic gospel of good health though sport! He is now the No. 1 speaker sent out by SOCOG for a nice fat fee to talk up what a good job they are all doing preparing for the Olympics in September. I hope that background will show why NSMA have gone on the attack against this salesman of death and disease on two more occasions since the last newsletter.

ROUND ONE - STATE LIBRARY PROTEST 12 OCTOBER 1999

When we received just two days notice of Nick Greiner's seminar presentation as a paid speaker for SOCOG at the State Library we hastily arranged for six NSMA members to set up on the library steps with placards displayed to the ninety members of the Accountants group as they arrived. Everyone was handed a leaflet headed "NICK GREINER to be tried before international court" This pointed out the opinion of a Sydney barrister that tobacco company directors will inevitably be hauled before the International court on the charge of crimes against humanity. Greiner's lackeys nosed around and studied our leaflet and asked who was this barrister? When we declined to name him (Neil Francey) they said anyway we know who it is!

They then tried to bluff us that we were trespassing and tried to move us on before the "honourable" Nick arrived. Of course we stood our ground and they could only stand red faced as one of our members thrust a leaflet into Nick's hands and asked him what he had to say. Of course he was furious and bounded up the steps two at a time throwing the leaflet over his shoulder. He was clearly upset by this reception committee but little did he know worse was to come inside.

Inside Action Brian McBride had pre-booked and paid $60 for two tickets to the seminar and he and helper Glen were already inside with a large plastic bag containing a loudhailer public address system. after a glass of the obligatory chardonay and a few canapés they sat in the front row alongside the organisers and VIP guests who chatted to us about possibly joining the organisation. Nick's introductory pleasantries talked about how many of these folk had been members of the young liberals - but would you believe it - he had never been one. After a few minutes Brian moved into a strategic position in

How the Great Man Rationalises! - Nothing has changed in three years.

the front corner of the room with Glen standing in front to restrict access to him. Brian told the stunned audience that we are sick of pretending that tobacco company directors like Greiner are respected members of the community.

They are simply drug pushers dealing in the world's greatest form of preventable death and disease, and should be shown no respect. This was particularly the case with Greiner because as Premier of NSW in charge of the Health system he had all the statistics and knew the harm done by tobacco better than anyone else in the state. The contradiction of a drug pusher going out to speak on behalf of the Olympics, which are supposed to be all about true principles of sportsmanship and fair play and achieving good health through sport, just could not go unchallenged.

SCRAMBLE FOR SECURITY The 10 Watt loudhailer gave out more volume than Nick's public address system so he soon gave up and sat down, staring at the floor, while Brian continued for the best part of five minutes to extol the evils of the tobacco industry. The chairwoman for the meeting made a brave attempt to get past Glen and physically wrestle the loudhailer from Brian's hands. When this did not succeed she then tried to reach what she thought was the "off" switch. However she only succeeded in turning the siren on and since it was right beside her ear she then retreated in a state of shock. Some of the yuppie men tried to drown out the speech with cries of "boring - boring... " and kept up the chant. Brian raised the volume a few notches and asked them whether 18000 needless deaths each year, every year was boring to them. Perhaps it would not be so boring when it affected their families. Eventually two burly security guards were dredged up from the tea room somewhere in the bowels of the library and told Brian he had to leave. Brian put up a counter proposition that he would put the loudhailer away and would not interrupt if allowed to stay and listen to the talk (to gather more ammunition ) because he had paid to be in there. This request was refused so Brian and Glen demanded and eventually got a refund of the $60 entrance fees.

ROUND TWO - CASTLE HILL RSL CLUB
A week later Nick was booked to speak at this venue. This function was widely advertised through the local papers as an opportunity for the Castle Hill - Baulkham Hills district businessmen to be briefed by Nick Greiner on what wonderful things the Olympics would do for them and how to get involved in them. It was a breakfast seminar starting at 7.00 AM so that businessmen could get to their offices by 9.00 am. Again Brian and four other members of NSMA pre-booked and paid the $25 to attend. When Brian gave his name at the registration desk the manager of the club approached him offering to "check that bag for you". Brian politely declined but immediately knew that Greiner's minders had signalled ahead to the management of possible trouble ahead.

He keeps everyone waiting With typical arrogance you would expect from a tobacco chief Greiner was late and hence the serving of breakfast was delayed awaiting him. By 7.30 am the troops were restless and hungry so the manager announced breakfast would start without him. He eventually arrived by VIP Helicopter (SOCOG has a big budget!) and started speaking at 8.00 am. As soon as he was a few minutes into his speech Brian produced the loudhailer and started to tell the audience what a disgrace it was that SOCOG were so bereft of talent that they had to send a tobacco drug pusher to tell us how the Olympics will benefit the youth of this country.

A security guard who had been standing nearby and the assistant manager of the club immediately descended on Brian and told him to leave. Brian pointed out that, not only had he paid to attend, but he was also a member of the club and had a perfect right to free speech on a matter which reflected no credit on the club management for bringing someone like Greiner to speak to members. He offered to not use the loudhailer but insisted he had a right to remain. The club manager told him he must leave. Brian refused. The security guard then grabbed him and twisted his wrist under his arm forcing him to walk to the door in the time honoured fashion that drunks are thrown out.

EDITORS NOTE
This issue of Update No 30 was really due at the end of December 1999. However in view of the editors heavy workload on campaign issues it has been delayed to January 2000. On reflection the Xmas period is always a problem for printing and getting volunteers for the mailout etc. Hence in future the issue dates will be adjusted to, end of January, April, July, and October. Renewal notices will be issued, as usual, to cover the dates of issue of the Update. I hope this is acceptable to members and I apologise for any inconvenience.

REINFORCEMENTS!
As soon as Brian had been escorted to the manager's office Nick resumed his speech with the observation that he is being "followed around" by this person. At this point another NSMA member, Dr. Brian Learoyd, got to his feet and challenged Nick on his role in the tobacco industry. Nick shook his head in disbelief that it was happening again and immediately resumed his seat. Of course the security people quickly returned and both Brians were impounded in the managers office with a guard to keep them there while the police were called. Brian McBride demanded the name of this guard who he said had injured his wrist with unnecessary force. The guard refused to give his name, only the name of his security company. Brian made a strong complaint to the club manager about his treatment and made it clear he would be suing the club. The police arrived in about 15 minutes and after getting name and address details asked the manager what action he wished to take. Brian repeated his complaints to the police about being assaulted and injured by the security guard. The manager at this point declined to press any charges and said he just wanted them removed from the premises. They were duly escorted to the footpath outside the club. When they did not move off the police asked why. Brian said he was waiting for the Sydney Morning Herald reporter who had made an arrangement to talk to us. They then said he had to move off the footpath and wait on the other side of the road. You can't be too careful with people crazy enough to criticise an honoured member of the community like Nick Greiner!

MEDIA GETS A NO COMMENT
During question time Herald reporter, Mark Ragg asked Nick whether his role in tobacco created a conflict of interest with the Olympic ideals. Nick gave a one word reply "No" and sat down. I think he might be getting the message loud and clear. We were most disappointed that the Herald did not run Mark's story complete with the photos they took. Perhaps they are getting tired of SOCOG stories. Anyway the local press reported it and a copy of that press item from the Hills Shire Times is included as an insert with this Update. We have sent copies of this local press report in to all members of the Olympics Board, SOCOG. At the same time we have asked for a list of all Nick's future speaking engagements so we can increase the pressure to force his resignation from either the Olympics or tobacco. We will keep up the campaign to prove he can't have both and retain public credibility. We have also warned the Board to expect some special events in February during the visit of Mr. Samaranch and other IOC visitors.

1997 NSW SMOKING REGULATION ACT As with other agencies we are continuing to chip away at this lack of action by the Government. It was encouraging to see Premier Bob Carr even talking about it in December 1999 and saying he would welcome wide discussion and submissions on just how far the bans in pubs and clubs should go. However we have waited months for a reply to our letters proposing the nominated person in NSW Dept. of Health receive a deputation of our members to put our views as forcefully as possible.

Correspondence to the Minister or through local MPs all finish up referring to Michael Reed, Director General, who in turn nominates Dr. Jennifer Gray as the person to talk to. Even one of our interstate members who wrote in pursuant to our action points was given the same reference. However she replies to no one. If anyone knows what happened to Dr. Gray please let us know! NSMA will now take up the Premier's invitation to put a submission direct to him.

NATIONAL TOBACCO STRATEGY
An interesting seminar was held on 25 & 26 October 1999 to release of the latest version of the National Drug Strategy. This was convened by the National Expert Advisory Committee on Tobacco and the Federal Department of Health. There were some exciting action headings including Commonwealth priorities for action, National priorities for action, Case studies of National Activity. Too much detail to go into here and I will give more comment as this promised action unfolds. However as Shadow Health Minister, Jenny Macklin, points out, they have not allocated one extra dollar to anti smoking programs in this year's budget so we won't hold our breath waiting for this increased activity at the Federal level.

STATE RAIL MOVES AT SNAIL'S PACE
At the beginning of 1999 we started with the usual ritual of beating our heads against the transport Minister's brick wall of in-action re smoking regulations. We took Channel Seven cameras on to platforms and even interviewed smoking staff with cigarettes in their hands. This year we took a stroll around Central Railway Station to see if much has changed. The selection of photos on various pages of this edition show that they are moving at snail's pace to put up extra No Smoking signage but there is absolutely no evidence of any enforcement of the bans which apply in all covered areas.

Twenty new signs in concourse area.

NEW SIGNS IN CENTRAL CONCOURSE SMOKING OF ANY SUBSTANCE PROHIBITED
That is what the above sign in the country trains concourse reads. It is good to see that they have put up about 20 new signs around this area. However, when it was pointed out to two security guards that there were none of these signs out on the platform areas they said - we have to let them smoke somewhere, and out there is in the open air. But it is still a covered area we said. Well, if you want to argue about it go and see the stationmaster the security man said. So much for knowledge of, or enforcement of, rules by the people paid to enforce them. Three other photos in this edition show smokers freely smoking in banned areas.

TENNIS TANTRUMS - Update by Brian McBride
It was twelve months ago that I was banned from playing in the Parramatta Hills District because I objected to cigarette smoke invading the playing areas. We, at NSMA, realise we are pushing the boundaries now by fighting smoking in the open air and it is clear we won't get much help from the mainstream health bodies let alone from timid councils and politicians. Never-the-less I am confident this is the way of the future and the sooner we start the sooner we will win. If only the health bodies realised it, the most spectacularly successful measure in reducing the level of smoking would be to get public smoking restricted only to "designated outdoor" areas. This would put smoking in the same social acceptability class as going to a public toilet. Something to be done in private and not a shared experience.

If smokers faced this constant obligation to find a "permitted area" they would quit in droves because life and social interaction would become too inconvenient. What is more they would have to willingly accept the public stigma as outcasts from society. At present they move six inches outside any door and feel fully justified and comfortable about lighting up. There is a sort of "fringe club" - lets stick together - mentality reinforcing their behaviour. Indeed I saw an example of this recently at a 21st party where more than half of the young people stayed outside with the smokers instead of inside with the music and the fresh air. It's cool to show you are different from the "oldies".

SRA staff smoking openly on platform 18.

Challenging Our Youth

Getting back to the specifics of the tennis club I have been making the occasional protest when smoking impacts upon me. One night last September I loudly threatened to sue two young people who were rude enough not to comply with my initial request not to smoke. While they just grinned at each other and continued smoking another 18 year old ran over to get involved by loudly declaring " I don't smoke why don't you sue me - go on sue me". His lack of logic gives a clue to his intellectual development but it was an interesting example of the - "everyone loves to hate a wowser" - syndrome. However, I deliberately add fuel to these fires in order to get as much conflict and discussion on the issue as possible. I am confident that the majority of "don't want to be involved" young people will come down against smoking if only they can be incensed enough to make them get involved, to see that decisions should be made and that old practices should not continue by default.. Their initial reactions may be negative but when the dust settles and the issues are frankly discussed, non smokers' rights should prevail!

Attempt to Ban Fails at AGM
In addition to stirring the pot occasionally I was hoping that a motion put to the Annual General meeting of the club on 17 November 1999 might have achieved the ban by majority vote. However that was not to be. My motion to ban smoking everywhere except in a designated area beside the car park was lost by 4 votes for, 8 votes against, with 5 abstaining. That shows a total of 17 players/members attended the AGM in a club of some 300 members. That is, unfortunately, symptomatic of the decline in the participation of administration of the sport which has always been a problem but is getting worse. The young players are too self interested to volunteer their time on committees so they just leave it to the older dedicated members. The 8 votes against my motion were the "old" committee group including 3 smokers. The others, of course, want to appear loyal to their long time smoker friends and against troublemakers like me. If I had not been so busy with the other campaign activities I could have easily stacked the meeting to get the desired result but that would have been obvious to all concerned.

Continue Battle with Council
Indeed, from a broader campaign point of view it is now advantageous for me to be able to point out to Parramatta Council and all other councils that big issues of health and safety around their sporting facilities cannot be left to self-interested amateurs and must be imposed by councils themselves. I will now also write to health bodies like Quit NSW and Quit Victoria seeking their sponsorship of teams comprising non smoking players. Part of that process will get those bodies making proposals to Parramatta Council and hence pushing them to re-evaluate their stand. I will also turn up the heat on Workcover NSW who are still avoiding giving me the requested "in writing" statement that there is no safe level of exposure to passive smoking. (Come on Workcover - stand up and be counted on this!)

STATES EXPLORE LAW SUITS
During December 1999 it was reported in the papers that the NSW Government and the South Australian Government are both considering suing tobacco companies to recover the costs of treatment of smokers in public hospitals. A task force has been formed to investigate the matter under the control of Attorney General, Jeff Shaw, in NSW.

NEW CIGARETTE BUTT FINES
Premier Bob Carr and the Sydney Lord Mayor, Frank Sartor, have both announced new $60 fines for littering our streets with cigarette butts. This is all part of the big clean up for the Olympics and we will certainly need it with the influx of a high rate of smoking tourists. In fact if there is one good reason to get out of Sydney during September it will be to get away from the smokers! Anyway it will be good to see some action on anti littering law enforcement but we don't think it will be too dramatic. For this reason we have offered City Council to provide real "Smoking Police" for a modest 20% share in the fines. We will advertise the jobs in the next Update if they accept! Of course the real solution to the butts problem is for the Government to legislate to make the cigarette manufacturers provide a disposal compartment as part of the original packet. The industry lobbyists will make sure the Government never gets serious about this because it would reduce the industry's profit per packet and we can't have that. Finally we note that Frank Sartor's new and expensive street furniture including the upgraded litter bins are soon converted into visually disgusting ash trays as smokers grind their stubs into the decorative new tops as shown in the photo.

Ugly Ash Trays on every street.

FLATS AND UNITS We are maintaining a Register of people having problems with smoke pollution from neighbours. Please talk up this subject and if you hear of anyone send the details in to us. We hope to start some action soon.

GLOBAL ATTACK
Perhaps "Global Talk" might be a more accurate description, however it is good to hear that more than 100 nations have agreed on the need for a global treaty to control tobacco sales. The meeting was convened by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in December 1999. The two largest tobacco exporters, USA and Japan, immediately opposed the idea of a complete ban on advertising but it is early days in negotiations. When you consider that the world death toll is equivalent to the entire population of Sydney, or about four million people, dying needlessly every year, you would think commercial considerations would take a back seat. (Did I sat that!). More talks to involve the 191 WHO members will resume in May 2000.

SIMON SAYS?
Assoc. Prof. Simon Chapman has done a great job over the years in carrying the fight to the industry. However I would be inclined to say he is letting the side down by volunteering to defend outdoor smoking as he has done in articles recently published. However he is a very strategic thinker and I would like to think he is playing devil's advocate here so as to get the subject into more open debate and hence bring a solution quicker than might otherwise be achieved. Only time will tell. Is it simple Simon, or clever Simon? What do readers think?

THOSE SMOKY RSL CLUBS !
No wonder we won the second world war ! With ferocious fighters like the Directors of our Sydney RSL Clubs we could take on the world anytime! No, I'm not having a shot at our diggers who were the poor victims of a system which encouraged them to smoke and even issued them with free cigarettes as part of the essential rations of a fighting man. By the lucky lottery of date of birth I was too young for the second war and too old for the rest but my family has made its contribution. My uncle died in the trenches in France, my father served in Tobruk and New Guinea, and my younger brother served in Vietnam. Hence I am always proud to stand for the ritual of the Ode and think the RSL is to be congratulated on preserving the memory of those to whom we owe so much. However when it comes to getting them to introduce non smoking areas their thinking is still in the last century. Correction, the century before the last. We have been doing correspondence battles with Granville, Bankstown and Marrickville RSLs over the last twelve months with little success.

Our man takes action
One of our members had been demanding smokefree areas around the karioke stage and had a series of run-ins with smokers at Marrickville RSL. Finally, in total frustration, last September he threw a glass of water over the offender's cigarette to put it out. Adolf would have been proud of the duty officer's response. Our man was verbally abused and immediately stripped of his membership card and told never to enter the club premises again. Of course NSMA went into action with our solicitor's letter threatening all the usual things as well as the full force of the law regarding their breaches of the 1983 NSW Occupational Health and Safety laws. These trench warfare Directors did not give in easily but after venting their spleens with a Star Chamber hearing they grudgingly re-instated our man to full membership status. NSMA wanted to go further by putting a picket line across the entrance to the club and handing out appropriate leaflets to all who entered. However, our man did not want to inflame passions further and requested us not to go on with it for the present. However it is still on the agenda for this or any other club who needs to be brought into line.

BANKSTOWN RSL CAVES IN
We were approached by some parents of teenage children attending their dancing school Xmas function to be held in the function centre of Bankstown RSL. The problem was they did not want the children exposed to cigarette smoke and approached the club management to declare the area smokefree for the night. Once again these last century managers said no, their normal smoking rules would apply. NSMA asked a few questions and established that the dancing school instructors would be on duty and paid for the evenings work, in addition to the catering and drinks staff provided by the club. We quickly pointed out that the function room would definitely be a workplace even if it was deemed a private function in the club. We armed the parents with chapter and verse of OHSA 1983 to quote to the club and to the dancing school proprietor. Furthermore we said, you can assure them that representatives of NSMA would be present at the function and if there was any smoking we could guarantee that a fully documented complaint would be immediately lodged with Workcover NSW. Lo and behold within 24 hours the parents reported back that everyone including the club management now agreed it would be a totally smokefree event.

Steps off train, immediately lights up.

ANOTHER SMOKEFREE XMAS FUNCTION
We were approached for help in making the Otis Elevator company staff Christmas party held in a club at Campbelltown to be smokefree. Management had refused this member's initial request saying it was a social function, not work. We again gave chapter and verse advice on OHSA 1983 section 15 and argued that such venues are workplaces if staff are being paid to be there. Armed with our advice and with subsequent support from their occupational safety officer he approached management again. We are pleased to report that the function was made totally smokefree. We must congratulate our members in having the courage to stand up to the managers and take the initiative on such important health issues.

SMOKING AT BUS STOPS
As part of our open air campaign we are building a case on the specific circumstances of being a captive passive smoker while waiting at bus stops. You are forced to endure these conditions in order to use the bus service so someone must bear legal responsibility. We have written to Sydney and Newcastle bus companies with the proposition that they are responsible for the health damage to our members who are collapsing at bus stops. They, of course, have replied that it is not their problem and we should refer to the local councils. This is just round one with, no doubt, many more to follow. We would like to hear from anyone who has suffered problems in this area, so please let us know.

COFFEE SHOPS IN SHOPPING MALLS
One of our new members is a solicitor who has finally become fed up with the continuing smoker's pollution in her favourite city coffee shop. She is bringing legal pressure to bear on Workcover NSW to force them to prosecute this shop. We have advised her of Workcover's preference to talk to offenders and try to educate them without prosecution for breaches of the OHSA Act 1983. However, she is a determined lady and she wants the full weight of the law applied. We are warmly encouraging this because enough is enough! We too, are sick of Workcover's pussyfooting around trying to convert the likes of thousands of brazen pro-smoking proprietors one at a time without ever putting them through the courts. Such an approach will take until the next Millennium to achieve results. A conviction and maximum penalty is what is urgently needed. We could then get this into the media and arm our members with leaflets to hand to their local coffee shops to show them that the law is real and that the penalties will hurt them. Stay tuned for developments.

LETTERS TO EDITOR
Dear Editor
In reply to your question in the last Update as to whether we should be more tolerant of smokers my answer is a strong NO! Get these stinking drug addicts out of our restaurants, bars and public places. Get them off our streets, I'm sick of having to juggle my life around finding non smoking restaurants etc., and having to sit indoors on a nice day because the outside section is polluted with smokers. When so much information is available, I can't believe there are still new recruits of sheep and unthinking robots taking it up. This is unacceptable - zero tolerance, I say ! Bob Daisley, Elanora Heights NSW.

Dear Editor
Bravo - for the last edition of Update would easily be the best and most interesting I have seen in a long time. Excellent layout and photos and very relevant content, I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover. I particularly enjoyed the "war" with Parramatta Tennis Courts and wish Brian McBride success with the campaign. The main feature on restaurants reminds me of my extensive campaign on this vital issue over 30 years. I have again written to Premier Bob Carr in NSW and to Premier Steve Bracks in Victoria urging their governments to take some real action on this problem. Here's hoping ! Steve Patroni, Adelaide, South Australia.

Young mother smokes in banned area.

Dear Editor
I first started my anti smoking campaign in 1986 when incensed by huge billboards advertising packets of fifteen cigarettes. These small packets were obviously aimed at school children and young people. One particular gem portrayed a young girl with a packet tucked in her knickers with the caption 'Alpine 15s fit in anywhere'. These ads suggested such small packets could be concealed from teacher or parent. I am presently writing a proposal for a reduction in nicotine content which I believe is their Achilles heel. Let someone powerful and authoritative in the Movement publicly and forcefully advocate a calculated and systematic reduction in nicotine by statute; then wait for the industry's response. Arthur Bester, Dangar, NSW.

Dear Editor
I don't have a lot of compassion for smokers. Most of them don't care where they blow their smoke. Even if allowed to smoke in their own homes they are still harming others, children and spouses. I live in a block of units and I have been affected in my bedroom and lounge room by people smoking on the balcony of the unit beneath me. I want a social life but it is controlled by smokers. I can't go to pubs and not many restaurants are smokefree. I hope all anti-smoking movements become stronger and fight with "no holds barred" Norma Daisley, Mosman, NSW.

Ed. Note - Thanks to all who wrote in. Not all could be published and the above are edited down to fit.

HIGHER GST COSTS - INCREASED FEES
Like everyone else we have had to accept to impact of the GST on our finances. We are better off taking the option available to non profit organisations and not registering to become a tax collector for the government with all the paper work involved. However the down side is that we cannot claim back any of our higher input GST costs for electricity, phone, rent, printing etc., Hence we will have to raise our membership fees by 10% to cover these increased operating costs. Accordingly the pro-rata increases are shown on all renewal notices this year. We are very grateful to our loyal supporters over so many years and we hope that you will continue to support us even if the increased fees make it more difficult.

ACTION POINTS You will notice that the usual action point requests have been dropped from this issue. However we hope to replace it with a more organised list of people who will (definitely) write letters on direct request from us. We will be providing proformas and similar aids to make our lobbying more effective and to monitor and get feedback from those participating. If you are willing to help with this work please let us know.