Australia: Smokers May Face New Bans

Source from:  The Age (au)  11/27/2012

THE Victorian government is facing renewed pressure to introduce statewide bans on smoking in outdoor dining areas with the Greens set to introduce a private members bill in Parliament this week.

Greens MP Colleen Hartland said the government was taking too long to introduce bans that were now in place or under way in every other Australian state and territory.

Both the opposition and government yesterday declined to say whether they supported outdoor smoking bans. A spokeswoman for Health Minister David Davis said the government was ''considering further options for regulatory reform in consultation with key stakeholders'', after banning smoking at patrolled beaches.

In addition to banning smoking in outdoor dining and drinking areas, the proposed laws would also ban smoking within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and within four metres of entrances to public buildings and public transport stops.

The move comes eight months after a coalition of Victorian health groups including the Australian Medical Association, Cancer Council, Heart Foundation and Quit recommended the government adopt such bans as a matter of priority.

During the 2010 state election campaign, then opposition leader Ted Baillieu said he would consider banning smoking in public places if health groups recommended it.

Last month, the government announced it would ban smoking on patrolled beaches, with fines of $140 for anyone who lit up between the flags or within 50 metres.

Health groups said the measure did not go far enough. It also clashed with existing bans by local councils including Surf Coast Shire, where smoking is banned on beaches, including Torquay and Anglesea.

Ms Hartland said statewide laws were needed to avoid confusion created by local councils striking out on their own to introduce various outdoor smoking bans.

West Gippsland's Baw Baw Shire is the only council that has introduced bans on smoking in outdoor dining areas after a year-long trial.

Boroondara Council has banned smoking near playgrounds, taxi ranks, bus and tram stops and sportsgrounds, and Monash Council has banned smoking at sportsgrounds, reserves and public swimming pools.

Smoking near playgrounds is also banned in the cities of Melbourne, Yarra and Hobsons Bay.

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said a high number of Victorians supported bans on smoking in outdoor dining areas, which had helped attract more patrons and encouraged smokers to quit in other states.

She said outdoor smoking bans would prevent exposure to secondhand smoke for other people, help people who had quit smoking avoid relapsing, and ''de-normalise'' smoking, including for children.

About 4000 Victorians die each year from smoking-related illnesses. Enditem