The Liberal government’s backflip on the previous tripartite agreement to ban the use of solariums by 31 December this year, leaves Tasmania falling behind the rest of the nation, Greens Health spokesperson Cassy O’Connor MP said today.
“Given the known harms and deaths caused by solariums, this is one of the most disgraceful and disappointing public policy positions taken by the Hodgman Government so far, and that's saying something,” Ms O’Connor said.
“The Greens’ motion debated in 2012 to ban solariums, with implementation by the end of December this year, received strong support from both Labor and Liberal parties at the time, making the Hodgman government’s backflip now both mystifying and inexcusable.”
"Premier Will Hodgman, Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Health Minister Michael Ferguson all voted for this ban when they were in Opposition two years ago, but now they are in the position to follow through and deliver, suddenly they are trying to squirm out of fulfilling that undertaking.”
“The Liberals’ squibbing on their previous commitment leaves Tasmania falling behind the rest of the nation with all other states except Western Australia, moving to ban solariums.”
"The role of a decent government is to protect the wellbeing of people. The Hodgman Government is showing a disturbing disregard for the future health of Tasmanians.”
"The Greens will pursue ensuring the agreed tripartite ban on solariums is in place by the end of this year. That was the will of the Parliament in 2012 and that's what the Liberals committed to do,” Ms O’Connor said.
The agreed 2012 tripartite position to ban solariums in Tasmania, provided for the use of sunbeds to continue after the 2014 deadline for proven medical use only, such as psoriasis.