Queensland Shares Dity Ashtray Award Health groups are concerned by the Queensland government's support for the tobacco industry. Investment in tobacco while cutting anti-smoking programs has won the Queensland Government sharp criticism from peak health groups and the Dirty Ashtray Award. Australian Medical Association president Steve Hambleton said the government received the award for failing to invest in tobacco control and funding the tobacco industry at the same time. "The Queensland Government has done little to protect public health policy from tobacco industry interference, with continued investment of public money in the tobacco industry," Dr Hambleton said. The Queensland Government has jointly received the award [with Victoria] following their lack of investment in tobacco control, with significant funding cuts, no social marketing since May 2012, and a drastically reduced public health workforce. The industry funding, drawn from the government-owned Queensland Investment Corporation, was a sign of "gross hypocrisy," according to Heart Foundation health director Rachelle Foreman. "Sadly QLD has earned itself the Dirty Ashtray Award," Ms Foreman told 612 ABC Brisbane on Friday. We would like them to increase their investment in the good cause, and decrease their investment in the tobacco industry. The Dirty Ashtray Award was bestowed in the lead-up with World No Tobacco Day held annually on May 31. But Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg defended the government's investment strategy and program of preventive health measures. Mr Springborg said cuts to health staff had not come at the expense of the state's work to reduce levels of smoking-related illness and that his department continued to fund tobacco control. "We allocated $1.9 million directly into the Qld Quitline and indeed we'll be investing in a $400,000 anti-smoking campaign particularly aimed at young women, so our investment remains very strong," he said. According to Heart Foundation figures, Queensland continues to have one of the highest levels of smoking in the country with 19.7 per cent regular smokers (including daily and weekly smokers). About one in every six (16.7 per cent) Queenslanders are daily smokers which is higher than the national average of 15.1 per cent. The Dirty Ashtray Award is presented each year in conjunction with the National Tobacco Scoreboard by the AMA, the Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH), and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).