QUEENSLAND SMOKING LAWS UNDER REVIEW

Queenslanders will have their say on whether the State’s tough anti-smoking laws require further reform, Premier Anna Bligh said today.

Ms Bligh said Queensland Health is embarking on a major review of Queensland’s current laws to assess their effectiveness and explore possible new reforms.

“Queensland already has Australia’s toughest anti-smoking laws and we make no apology for that, “ she said.

“More than 3,400 Queenslanders die from smoking every year.

“Many thousands more are hospitalised as a result of smoking-related chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

“My Government is committed to doing whatever is necessary to minimise the public’s exposure to the harmful effects of tobacco smoke

“That’s why Health Minister Stephen Robertson is reviewing our smoking laws to determine what more needs to be done.”

Ms Bligh said the review will take approximately 10 weeks and involve extensive stakeholder and community consultation.

Some of the issues to be examined include whether to:

• Ban smoking in private vehicles carrying children under 16 years;

• Ban smoking at all public transport waiting points such as bus stops and ferry wharves;

• Give local government the power to regulate smoking in pedestrian malls like the Queen Street Mall;

• Modify arrangements for designated outdoor smoking areas in pubs and clubs to look at issues such as size of the areas and buffer zones;

• Remove the current exemption allowing smoking in premium gaming rooms.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said smoking is already banned in many places including: inside non-residential buildings, pubs, clubs and eateries; cinemas, shopping centres and major sporting facilities; children’s playgrounds, patrolled beaches and railway stations.

“But there may be scope for further reform to meet the expectations of both the community and industry,” he said.

“The evidence suggests Queenslanders have embraced the laws and can see the long-term benefits of taking a firm stance on smoking in public.

“We want to encourage more Queenslanders to quit smoking and discourage young people from taking up the habit.

“However, we also recognise we have a responsibility to take into account the views of industry affected by smoking laws.”

A Discussion Paper outlining possible smoking reforms will be provided to all relevant stakeholder groups for comment and is available on the Queensland Health website at: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/

From tomorrow Queenslanders can also have their say through an online interactive consultation website at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au.

Public submissions to the 2007 Review of Smoke-free Laws will close on 31 January 2008.

Queensland Health officers have inspected more than 133,000 sites since the State’s smoking laws first came into force on 1 January 2005.

To date, more than 1,260 on-the-spot $150 fines have been issued for breaches of Queensland smoking laws.

MEDIA:   Paul Lynch  3234 1190