Melbourne city council set to discuss a ban for outdoor dining areas, an initiative that would bring Victoria into line with other states
Greens MP Colleen Hartland described Wooldridge’s comments as “hypocritical,” given the Coalition voted against a private members’ bill introduced by Hartland in 2012 to ban smoking in outdoor areas. The bill did not get the numbers to pass through the house at the time.
Hennessy said the almost two-year period between announcing the ban and implementing it was necessary so that businesses would have enough time to prepare for the changes.
“We want to work with businesses and consult with them to ensure this important reform is introduced and implemented effectively,” she said. “We don’t want to jeopardise jobs.”
However, it will put Victoria behind all other states. New South Wales last month implemented a smoking ban for all commercial outdoor dining areas, including hotels, clubs, restaurants and cafes. Queensland banned smoking in outdoor dining areas in 2006, and the ACT in 2010.
Earlier this year, the Victorian government brought forward bans on smoking within 4m of the entrances to public hospitals and community health services, schools, childcare centres, kindergartens and preschools, and government buildings.