Smoking bans gain ground

NEW smoking laws will come into effect this year after Queensland Parliament’s historic approval of the Smoke-free Places Amendment Bill 2015.
The Bill will see new bans on smoking at public transport waiting points, pedestrian malls, aged care facilities, specified national parks and at or near children’s organised sporting events and skate parks.
Members of Parliament provided bipartisan support for the Bill, which passed late on Tuesday (23 February).
Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Professor Jeff Dunn AO commended Members of Parliament and the Palaszczuk Government for taking action on tobacco control.
“This is a historic moment for Queensland and for public health globally,” he said.
“The new laws will safeguard Queenslanders from second-hand smoke, encourage more smokers to quit and prevent more young people from taking up this lethal habit.”
Professor Dunn said about one Queenslander a day died from second-hand smoke exposure and congratulated Health Minister Cameron Dick on the passage of the Bill.
“This legislation raises the global benchmark in tobacco control and sets a new standard for public health and wellbeing – and we thank the government for its action,” he said.
Professor Dunn said support for smoke free spaces was “higher than ever” and said communities would celebrate this “achievement”.
“Communities across the state will celebrate this achievement safe in the knowledge they will now have legal safeguards against the very real dangers of passive smoking,” he said.
“We hope to see these new laws introduced as soon as possible this year.”