ABC News Posted Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:25pm AEST
Updated Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:21pm AEST
Smoking inside Territory pubs and clubs will be banned from 2010. (Reuters: Morris Mac Matzen )
The Territory government has announced its long awaited timeframe for banning smoking inside clubs and pubs, saying new restrictions will come into place from the start of 2010.
The ban will not include outdoor areas where food and drink is not directly served.
Minister Chris Burns says the ban will start in 2010 so businesses will have time to do building work or make other adjustments for the changes.
“Venues need time to carry out works on their rooms and venue to accommodate this change. That’s the advice that we’ve had from industry.
“So we’re prepared to work with industry and allow them some time to do those works, to allow for that change.
“But certainly we foreshadow that if venues want to go before that date then we will be supporting them.”
The Northern Territory is the last place in the country to ban smoking in bars.
Mr Burns says the move reflects public pressure and he is also hoping the smoking changes will end the Territory’s less than prestigious winning run of the Dirty Ash Tray award, given by the Australian Medical Association to the jurisdiction with the worst smoking habits.
State Opposition Gaming and Racing spokesman Matt Conlon has welcomed the move but has labelled it an election stunt because it will not come into effect for 18 months.
“Are they actually approaching some of these licensee’s and actually entering into some sort of negotiation?” he said.
“There’s been no funds set aside or there’s no announcement in this particular announcement as to how much the whole thing is going to cost.”
The indoor smoking ban in all pubs and clubs has been met with mixed support.
The Australian Medical Association’s Dr Rob Parker says its about time.
“It’s very embarrassing for year after year to be brought up as the government that’s done the least amount for smoking policy or smoking health related issues,” he said.
He also says it should have taken six months to impose the ban instead of 18 months.
However the Australian Hotels Association says some pubs and clubs could lose up to 40 per cent of their revenue.
The Association’s Mick Burns says businesses will have to build special smoking areas if they are going to protect profits.
“The large majority of pubs and clubs they either have or will need to make amendments or make changes to their premises to properly facilitate these announcements,” he said.
The Territory Government has also announced a cap on the number of poker machines in the Territory to 1,190.
There will be no new poker machine licenses handed out.
The State Government is also looking into buying back liquor licenses across the Territory.