AUSTRALIA:WA: Government bans smoking in enclosed public places

[Robert Weissman <rob@essential.org>]

WA: Government bans smoking in enclosed public places
Australian News Network (9127) 
Date: Monday, 2/22/99

SMOKING in enclosed public places will become illegal in Western Australia
next month under new regulations announced yesterday. 

The new regulations, officially announced by Health Minister John Day
today, will come into force on March 29 and are believed to be the
toughest in Australia. 

Mr Day said Health Department research showed overwhelming support from
both smokers and non-smokers for restrictions on smoking in public places. 

Under the regulations, enclosed areas such as shopping centres, indoor
sporting venues, food halls and restaurants will all be smoke free. 

Mr Day conceded some exemptions would be made for hotels, bars, cabarets,
nightclubs and the casino. 

"I believe these regulations are an important health initiative in this
state, and I believe they will be very much welcome," Mr Day said. 

"But while the government is united in its view that the harm caused by
exposure to environmental tobacco in public areas should be gradually
eliminated, the regulations must also be effective and workable." 

Australian Hotels Association (AHA) spokesperson Bradley Woods said the
AHA conditionally supported the regulations. 

He said the government must continue to acknowledge that the public did
not support a total ban on smoking. 

"These regulations are a substantial win for the Health Department and the
anti-smoking lobby but there must be allowances for choice," Mr Woods
said. 

The risk of financial loss to hoteliers caused by the new regulations
would be determined within the next six to 12 months, he said. 

Mr Wood said there would be many social and physical changes in the hotel
industry as a result of the new regulations. 

These would include the refurbishment of some hotels to cater for smokers. 

"There is a degree of trepidation and a degree of uncertainity by hotels
but we do conditionally support the regulations," Mr Wood said. 

Mr Day said responsibility for the enforcement of the new regulations
would rest with local government environmental health officers. 

Penalties for contravening the regulations are $500 for an individual and
up to $5,000 for a body corporate. 

A public education campaign aims to raise awareness of the new regulations
and to inform relevant groups of their responsibilities under the
legislation. ------------------------------------------------------ 1:49
AM on 2/22/99