Unveiling of new cricket sponsorship deal for WACA

16/10/96

Health Minister Kevin Prince today unveiled a new $275,000 cricket sponsorship deal for the West Australian Cricket Association which includes a smoke-free policy at the WACA ground.

Healthway (the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation) has approved the sponsorship, which will cover all areas of the State cricket competition, from senior ranks down to the junior development program.

As part of the sponsorship deal, the WACA will become the third major metropolitan sporting venue to adopt a smoke-free policy. It will take effect immediately in all seating and indoor areas.

Mr Prince said the restrictions would apply to all organisations using the facility - including cricket, rugby, baseball, football and soccer sporting groups.

"The WACA now joins Parry Field, which was the first sporting venue in Australia to restrict smoking back in 1993 and Subiaco Oval, which adopted a smoke-free policy in all seating and indoor areas at the beginning of the 1995 football season," Mr Prince said.

"These initiatives have been a great success. Of 130 randomly-selected football spectators surveyed at a game last month, about 44 per cent were smokers. Of that group, 84 per cent agreed with the policy implemented at Subiaco Oval and 85 per cent believed the policy was a success."

The new cricket sponsorship message, Smoke Free WA, joins other Health Department sponsorships of sport including Quit and Kick Butt.

"This will mean that the A Grade district competition will be renamed the Smoke Free League as part of the sponsorship," Mr Prince said.

"It will also cover the Smoke Free Junior Cricket Program (metropolitan junior development), Smoke Free Pace 2000 (the elite bowling program) and Smoke Free Under 16s competition."

The Smoke Free WA slogan will feature on metropolitan billboards and taxis in the lead-up to this year's cricket season.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 366 0300