The HonoUrable Nicola Roxon, Dr Nigel Grey, distinguished guests and leaders in tobacco control, ladies and gentlemen.
This is a very special night for tobacco control, not only in Australia, but also in the Western Pacific Region and the rest of the world.
It is an honour to be here with you at this auspicious event.
We estimated that the tobacco epidemic kills two people every minute in our Region.
Compared to the other WHO regions, ours is the one with the greatest number of smokers, the highest rates of male smoking prevalence and the most rapid increase in tobacco uptake by women and young people.
One in three cigarettes smoked globally is smoked in our Region.
Tobacco use is a leading risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, which in turn is the leading cause of death in Asia and the Pacific.
As such, we value every act of political will to curb the tobacco epidemic.
And we value every bold decision to further regulate the tobacco industry.
Tonight we are here to affirm a moment in tobacco control history where we stand at the threshold of change.
History will judge this generation of public health leaders on a number of things.
I am sure Dr Nigel Gray, known as one of the founding fathers of the international tobacco control movement, will agree with me that today's public health leaders will all be judged on how well they protect their people from the hazards of tobacco and prevent unnecessary and premature deaths.
In an era of globalization, where the tobacco industry's power, transnational reach and formidable resources have become more pronounced, the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, signed by 172 Parties — show us the way forward.
But we need to remind ourselves that this treaty is only as good as our will to implement it, through national legislation.
The evidence of the harms of tobacco is well-established.
The evidence for interventions that work is also well-established.
But it is the gap between what we know and what we do that spells the difference between life and death for 6 million people around the world each year.
Tonight, I am here on behalf of the Director-General of the World Health Organization to recognize a leader who has bridged the gap between what we know and what can be done.
And I would like to add, beyond this, we are in the presence of a leader who is carving out the future of tobacco control beyond the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
I am here to present the WHO World No Tobacco Day 2011 Award and the Director-General's Special Recognition Certificate to Ms Nicola Roxon, the Minister for Health and Ageing of Australia.
The citation recognizes Minister Roxon's "unwavering leadership" in the field of health and describes the proposal to introduce plain packaging as a "bold and breakthrough" approach that has inspired political leaders in many countries to take strong, calibrated and decisive action on the tobacco industry's most noxious weapon: seductive brand advertising.
Minister, I purposely travelled from the Philippines to be here with you tonight as you receive the Nigel Gray Award, and to add one more feather to your cap: the WHO World No Tobacco Day 2011 Award and the Director-General's Special Recognition Certificate.
Your leadership speaks of an oncoming victory for public health and an irreversible gain for tobacco control in Australia.
Your pioneering spirit is an inspiration to leaders all around the world.
What you have started in Australia will impact on tobacco control policies in many other countries.
WHO stands firmly with you in your fight for a tobacco free world.
Congratulations.