HEALTH leaders have urged other Australian governments to follow suit from the ACT government in its decision to exclude investment in tobacco companies.

The ACT has become the first Australian government to exclude companies that make cigarettes, cluster bombs or land mines from its government investments.

Action on Smoking and Health Australia, the Heart Foundation, the Australian Council on Smoking and Health and the Australian Lung Foundation are urging other state and territory governments to follow the leadership set by the ACT in the decision to exclude tobacco from its $2.3b super fund.

Chief Executive of ASH Anne Jones Anne Jones says Australian public money should “not be invested in an industry that kills over five million a year, including 15,000 Australians, drains $31b from our economy and undermines health policies.”

“Government investment should be consistent with long-term best interests of the community, and in line with international best practice,” she said.

A Senate committee report will be released this week, following public input on a similar plan to prevent Australia’s Future Fund from investing in tobacco, mines and nuclear weapons.

The Future Fund currently invests around $210m in tobacco companies.