Smoking will be banned at playgrounds, children’s sporting events, skate parks and swimming pools, and the state government has flagged further curbs on the habit. An amendment to the Tobacco Act is due in Parliament this year.
Hobsons Bay mayor Angela Altair said the municipality was among the first to ban smoking at beaches and children’s playgrounds, and had been actively involved in the government’s protocol to regulate retail tobacco sales, smoke-free dining, smoking at work and sales to minors.
The upper house is due to continue debating a Greens’ bill that would ban smoking at playgrounds, sports grounds and outdoor dining areas. A technical issues paper on the implementation of the changes will be out for comment at the end of this month for local governments and sports groups to respond to. Consultations will be open for six weeks.
