Sydney smokers Venus Palermo and Damian Dimitriyevich say the proposed ban goes too far. Picture: Justin Lloyd Source: The Daily Telegraph
SMOKERS will be banned from outdoor dining areas, taxi ranks, sport stadiums and playgrounds under a proposal being considered by the NSW and Victorian Governments.
The plan has further angered the hotel industry, which is already reeling after the indoor smoking ban three years ago.
NSW Health Minister (Cancer) Frank Sartor released a discussion paper yesterday which also proposes to ban smoking in the high rollers' room at Star City Casino.
The ban was given further impetus after Quit Victoria said it would lobby for bans on all outdoor areas where food was served following the banning of smoking in the Frankston Mall and several of Melbourne's most popular beaches this month.
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Queensland banned tobacco on its beaches, parks, playgrounds and outdoor dining areas in 2006, and in September Western Australia outlawed smoking in cars with children, on patrolled beaches, in al fresco areas and within 10m of playgrounds.
The NSW Coalition last night indicated they would likely support the proposal, which would require them to change legislation if they win the election in March.
"should this discussion paper require a legislative response, it will be considered by shadow Cabinet," Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner said. It comes as new figures show that NSW has recorded its lowest ever rate of smokers, down to 900,000.
The move appears designed to put pressure on the Liberals, pitting them against the hotel and club industry - one of their major support bases.
Mr Sartor admitted the ban was "contentious" and would be resisted by the clubs and hotel industry.
"In the spirit of smoking in pubs and clubs I pushed through three to four years ago, they could have outdoor smoking areas but the idea was they weren't areas where you had food served," he said."I am not sure if they followed the spirit."
Quit executive director Fiona Sharkie said she would push for similar laws in Victoria."our next horizon is for bans on anywhere where food is served, and that includes beer garden situations," she said."This is something the population themselves are saying they want."We have had smoke-free pubs now for three years, smoke-free restaurants since 2002, and people like it."
David Davis, tipped to be announced as theVictorian health minister within days, said the new Baillieu Government would look "favourably" at extending smoking bans, but did not immediately commit to the plan.
A Cancer Council Victoria survey of 4501 Victorians also found almost four out five people believe smoking shouldn't be allowed in outdoor areas where children are present, seven out of 10 believe smoking should be banned in alfresco dining areas, and that more than three in five are against lighting up at the beach, at uncovered tram, bus and train stops.
But the Australian Hotels Association said further bans would have a "wide reaching" effect on not just clubs and pubs but restaurants and cafes. AHANSW CEO Sally Fielke said the industry had already spent hundreds of millions conforming to current legislative requirements.
Smokers around Sydney are fuming at the Government's plan to ban smoking in outdoor eateries and pubs.
"I think it's ridiculous," sales assistant Damian Deimitriyvich, 26, said.
"how can you ban smoking outdoors in the fresh air? If people want to smoke then let them smoke."
One Sydney smoker thinks the proposed ban is unfair.
"I always smoke outdoors. I never smoke inside, not even in my own house. It's completely unfair," 26-year-old Venus Palermo said.
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