http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/health/story-fn3dxity-1226277257457
Smoking bans are to be put in place at playgrounds, public transport stops, entrances to public buildings and sports ground s in NSW. Source: AdelaideNow
ANTI-tobacco laws just got tougher in NSW with bans to be put in place at playgrounds, public transport stops,entrances to public buildings and sports grounds, with outdoor dining to follow.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner announced today that while the public smoking bans will be put in place as soon as they pass through parliament, possibly within a couple of months, the commercial outdoor dining areas will not be introduced until 2015.
Currently some council areas have some of these smoking bans in place but the new tobacco reforms – as part of NSW Tobacco Strategy 2012-17 – will now be uniform across the state.
“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,” Ms Skinner said.
The NSW Heart Foundation backed the reforms.
Outdoor smoking bans
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“This is an historic moment in our State’s history and one that will help to protect the thousands of people in NSW who don’t smoke,” NSW Heart Foundation CEO Tony Thirlwell said.
“There is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke evidence shows that a non-smokers exposure to second-hand smoke can result in up to a 30 percent increase in risk of heart disease,” he said.