Australian Council on Smoking & Health

Our Story

ACOSH and our partners have led Australia in tobacco control advocacy and action for over 50 years.

The landscape has changed drastically since our organisation was first established in 1965. We’ve made great leaps in reducing tobacco use in Australia and driving change that has helped save countless lives.

Find out more about our history below to see the difference ACOSH has made to the health of Australians over the years as we continue to work towards a tobacco free future.

ACOSH Timeline

1969

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 45%
  • Females: 28%
1971
  • ACOSH WA is formed
  • Major report on the health consequences of smoking released by the US Surgeon General
1972
  • Health warning, ‘Smoking is a Health Hazard’ is compulsory on cigarette packets in Australia
1973
  • Ban on direct tobacco advertising on radio and television is implemented by the Australian Government in stages 1973-1976
1974

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 45%
  • Females: 30%
1974
  • Metropolitan trains, buses and ferries in Perth become smoke-free
1975
  • State Government requires all persons involved in the sale of tobacco products to be licensed
1976

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 43%
  • Females: 33%
1979
  • US Surgeon General’s report noted that more than 30,000 scientific papers provided further irrefutable evidence on the negative health consequences of smoking over the 15 years since its first report in 1964
1980

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 41%
  • Females: 30%
1981
  • The dangers of second-hand smoke are clearly demonstrated in research by Japanese epidemiologist Takeshi Hirayama clearly that is followed by a flood of further evidence
1982
  • In WA Dr Tom Dadour brings a Private Members Bill to prohibit advertisements for smoking and tobacco products; the Bill is narrowly defeated in the Upper House
1983

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 40%
  • Females: 29%
1983
  • An increase in cigarette tax is imposed in WA
  • Two million dollars is allocated for community smoking education in a WA
  • The National Heart Foundation starts the first major public education program on smoking. This is the birth of the QUIT campaign, which gains a worldwide reputation as a leader in innovation in advertising and public relations
  • The National Heart Foundation starts the first major public education program on smoking. This is the birth of the QUIT campaign, which gains a worldwide reputation as a leader in innovation in advertising and public relations
1986

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 34%
  • Females: 26%
1986
  • Smoking prohibited on all domestic aircraft
  • Smoking phased out in all federal workplaces
  • In a Federal Court action brought by AFCO, Justice Morling ultimately holds that the Tobacco Institute of Australia engaged in misleading or deceptive conducts
1987
  • Stronger health warnings (initiated by WA) are introduced on cigarette packets under the Tobacco Act 1987 (warning labels) regulations, including: ‘Smoking Causes Lung Cancer,’ ‘Smoking Causes Heart Disease,’ ‘Smoking Damages Your Lungs,’ and ‘Smoking Reduces Your Fitness’
1989

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 30%
  • Females: 27%
1989
  • WA Public Service becomes a smoke-free workplace
  • Australian Government bans all cigarette advertising in print media
1990
  • WA Parliament passes the Tobacco Control Act 1990
1991
  • WA public schools go smoke-free, TAB agencies in WA introduce smoke-free policies
  • Point-of-sale advertising regulations under the WA Tobacco Control Act 1990 further restrict advertising and prohibit tobacco advertising outside of shops or in view of public places
1992

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 29%
  • Females: 24%
1992
  • WA taxis go smoke-free, prohibiting both drivers and passengers from smoking
  • Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs) are available for sale
1994
  • Australian Government bans tobacco sponsorship of sports and arts
  • Australian Government bans tobacco sponsorship of sports and arts
1995

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 28%
  • Females: 24%
1995
  • New and stronger health warnings on cigarette packets introduced by Australian Government
  • ACOSH initiates the National Tobacco Scoreboard to recognise state, territory and federal achievements in tobacco control and draw attention to deficits in policy and funding commitments
1997
  • Australian Government removes all remaining tobacco sponsorships, including international events
  • A new national campaign, ‘Every cigarette is doing you damage’ begins
  • WA Government establishes a task force on passive smoking in public places
1998

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 27%
  • Females: 25%
1999
  • WA Government prohibits smoking in any public place where food is served
2000
  • ‘Make Smoking History’ (formerly ‘Target 15) is launched by Cancer Council WA and the WA Department of Health with the goal of reducing the prevalence of smoking among WA adults to 15% or less by 2010
  • Burswood Casino implements smoke-free gaming areas on the main gaming floor, 50% of video (poker) machines and the Cabaret Lounge
2001

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 24%
  • Females: 20%
2003
  • World Health Organisation endorses the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
2004

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 22%
  • Females: 20%
2004
  • WA Labor Party announces that it will no longer accept donations from tobacco companies
  • The ACCC rules against Tobacco industry under the Trade Practices Act relative to its ‘lights and milds’ products and campaigns
2006
  • WA Tobacco Products Control At 2006 updates the Tobacco Control Act 1990
  • WA hotels, nightclubs and clubs go smoke-free
2007

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 20%
  • Females: 17%
2007
  • Strict limits on display of tobacco products at point of sale implemented in W
  • City of Fremantle makes all alfresco dining areas smoke-free
  • City of Joondalup makes 17kms of beaches (from Marmion to Burns Beach) smoke-free
2008
  • WA Department of Health facilities dclared smoke-free
  • Perth Royal Show goes smoke-free
  • State Emergency Ministers and the Federal Attorney-General endorse a decision for fire-safe cigarettes
  • City of Cockburn is the first WA local government to propose a comprehensive smoke-free policy
2009
  • The Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2008 passes through WA Parliament
  • Smoking in cars carrying children is prohibited
  • All tobacco products are to be placed out of sight at point-of-sale in retail premises
  • Patrolled beaches and playgrounds are smoke-free
  • Alfresco dining areas are smoke-free, with an exception for up to 50% of a hotel’s alfresco area
2010

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 19%
  • Females: 16%
2010
  • ‘Tackling Indigenous Smoking’ program funded by Australian government $100 million over four years
  • Australian Government announces a 25% increase in tobacco excise
  • Significant additional funding is dedicated to tobacco media campaigns
  • Perth Zoo goes smoke-free
2011
  • Public hearings are held to inquire into the funding of political parties and election campaigns (including donations made by tobacco companies)
  • New, larger, rotating graphic health warnings on tobacco products proposed by Australian government
2012
  • Plain packaging required for all tobacco products sold in Australia from 1 December
  • Australian government bans tobacco advertising on the internet
  • WA universities commit to implementing smoke-free policies, followed by many TAFEs
2013

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 17%
  • Females: 13%
2013
  • Tobacco excise rates increased by significant amounts and to continue increasing over the following three years
  • Duty free limits on tobacco substantially drop (from 200 to 50 cigarettes)
  • City of Perth pedestrian shopping malls go smoke-free
2014
  • WA Supreme Court decides that e-cigarettes are found to resemble a tobacco product and cannot be sold in WA. A seller of e-cigarettes was convicted of this offence
2015
  • Australian Government announces increases in funding for the revised Tackling Indigenous Smoking (TIS) program
  • All TAFE campuses in WA become smoke-free
2016

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 16%
  • Females: 12%
2016
  • Australian Government announces four 12.5% annual tax increases, pushing the price of cigarettes to $40 a pack by 2020
  • WA Supreme Court highlights that products that resemble tobacco products, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not, cannot be sold in WA and it is an offence under the Tobacco Products Control Act to sell these products
  • WA Supreme Court highlights that products that resemble tobacco products, regardless of whether they contain nicotine or not, cannot be sold in WA and it is an offence under the Tobacco Products Control Act to sell these products
2017
  • Australia’s laws on plain packaging were upheld at the World Trade Organisation, after a five year legal battle concerning Trademarks and other plain packaging requirements.
2019

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Males: 14%
  • Females: 12%
2019
  • Amendments to the WA The Tobacco Products Control Act 2006
2020/21

Prevalence of Smoking

  • Adults: 10.7%
2020
  • An attempt by Philip Morris to introduce heated tobacco products (HTPs) to Australia rejected by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
  • The Australian Senate Select Committee on Tobacco Harm Reduction in its majority report supported Australia’s precautionary approach to e-cigarettes
2021
  • TGA pathway established for people who smoke to access nicotine vaping products (NVPs) for smoking cessation with a doctor’s prescription
  • Legal exemption removed that allowed smoking in the ‘high roller’ rooms at Perth’s Crown Casino making the whole site smoke-free
2022
  • City of Vincent introduced a comprehensive Smoke free Town Centres initiative
  • Bandyup Women’s prison became the first corrective services facility in WA to go smoke-free

A History of ACOSH

Dr Cotter Harvey
Winfield 25s Paul Hogan

The Australian Council on Smoking & Health (ACOSH) was established in 1965 in New South Wales by Dr Cotter Harvey, President of the Medical Board of New South Wales, and also President of the National Tuberculosis and Chest Association.

Prominent doctors from the disciplines of respiratory medicine and tuberculosis care led the early activities of ACOSH, but they were soon joined by epidemiologists and members of the medical colleges, and complemented by representatives from government departments of health and education, and other community organisations.

Dr Harvey had first been convinced of the health risks of smoking after listening to Dr Alton Ochsner at the 1948 conference of the American Thoracic Society.

In 1950, landmark studies in Britain by Doll and Hill identified smoking as “an important factor in the cause of carcinoma of the lung” and in the United States by Wynder and Graham concluded, “the occurrence of carcinoma of the lung in a male non-smoker or minimal smoker is a rare phenomenon.”

The need for urgent action to reduce smoking was also reinforced by the reports on smoking and health from the Royal College of Physicians of London in 1962 and the US Surgeon General in 1964.

Dr Harvey set up ACOSH inspired by the example of the Interagency Council on Smoking and Health, established in the United States in 1964, which brought together government agencies and health pressure groups. He was also frustrated by the lack of action from Federal and State Governments to carry out anti-smoking campaigns.

In 1963, the response by the Menzies Federal Cabinet to the NHMRC submission to ban tobacco advertising was that “It did not conceive it to be the function of the Commonwealth Government to take action in these matters”, a position revealed when Cabinet papers were released thirty years later.

In 1965, ACOSH members included representatives from the Australian Medical Association, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, National Heart Foundation of Australia, National Tuberculosis and Chest Association and the New South Wales Health Department.

The broad objective of ACOSH was to advocate for changes in public policy and legislation that would reduce the prevalence of smoking in Australia, and the resulting epidemic of smoking caused disease and death. ACOSH established sister organisations in Tasmania in 1966, Western Australia in 1971 and South Australia in 1973.

Read more about ACOSH’s history by downloading the PDF below.

A History of ACOSH

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