NSW delayed outdoor smoking ban criticised

22 Feb 2012, 6:54 am   -   Source: AAP
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Supporters of a new NSW smoking ban for outdoor eating areas have questioned why it has been delayed until 2015.

A NSW ban on smoking in outdoor eating areas is being hailed as an historic step, but supporters want to know why it will be delayed until 2015.

NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner on Tuesday announced a suite of bans, including new legislation which would immediately stop smoking in playgrounds, public sports grounds, swimming pools, transport stops and entrances to public buildings.

But the 2015 ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas attracted the most attention.

"People don't like putting food in their mouths with smoke in the air, and this is something we are acknowledging," Jillian Skinner said.

"The aim of this is to reduce the number of people who are smoking, and to reduce the exposure to people, particularly children and families, of third-party tobacco smoke.

"So we've introduced a series of places where children and families congregate more frequently, which is why we've got parks, playgrounds, sporting fields and so on, and commercial outdoor dining areas."

Ms Skinner says the three-year timeframe for the alfresco smoking ban honoured a memorandum of understanding signed with clubs before the 2011 election.

The Heart Foundation praised the bans as "historic", saying they would protect thousands of non-smokers.

However, the health group said the three-year delay for the alfresco ban meant NSW was playing catch-up to Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, ACT and the Northern Territory.

"While we are pleased to see the release of the Tobacco Action Plan we are disappointed that it doesn't come into effect until 2015," NSW Heart Foundation Chief Tony Thirlwell said in a statement.

"There is very little that needs to be done in order to make the areas specified in the document smoke free."

The NSW Greens called on the government to tear up its MOU with the clubs industry and immediately ban smoking in outdoor dining areas.

"While the long overdue statewide ban is welcome, by failing to introduce an immediate ban on smoking in dining areas the O'Farrell government has once again put its powerful clubs mates ahead of sensible public policy," Greens MP John Kaye said.

NSW Opposition leader John Robertson labelled the bans as "a pleasing step forward" but said it was "disappointing that we have to wait three years to actually see this implemented".

Cancer Council NSW chief Dr Andrew Penman applauded the reforms and said he was "pragmatic" about the three-year wait for the alfresco ban.

"I think the important thing is to move forwards," Dr Penman said.

"What we do have is a firm cut-off in 2015. Normally what you've had in other jurisdictions is you've had a phase in period anyway."

Dr Penman says the state bans will replace the patchwork of bans already introduced by some local councils.

"This is a huge advance affecting the vast majority of the population," he said.

AMA (NSW) President Dr Michael Steiner said the bans were "a great preventative health measure and something the NSW government should be proud of".

ClubsNSW said its members were "broadly supportive of the new smoking laws".

"ClubsNSW will be urging the government to take a commonsense approach to the details of the law so that in dedicated smoking areas club members can still chew gum or eat potato chips without the threat of a fine," a statement from the organisation said.

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