June 2002

Smoking reforms to be extended

Some 5,000 pubs, clubs, bingo halls and gaming venues, including Crown Casino, will have to provide smoke-free areas by September 1 under the toughest anti-smoking reforms in Australia.

Introducing the Tobacco (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2002 in State Parliament, Health Minister John Thwaites said all licensed premises in Victoria with more than one operational room would have to provide a smoke-free alternative.

‘This will mean that people will be able to avoid second-hand smoke that has been linked to cancer, heart and respiratory diseases.

‘About 5,000 licensed premises will be affected by this extension of smoke-free laws, including 533 gaming venues and the entire main gaming floor at Crown Casino.’

Smoking will not be allowed in the gaming area in single room gaming venues.

In gaming venues with two or more rooms, smoking will be prohibited in the whole of the room that has gaming machines.

‘These reforms mean that from September 1, 90 per cent of the 533 gaming venues in this State will be required to make their gaming room entirely smoke free.’

The new law proposes $100 on-the-spot fines or up to a $500 penalty in the Magistrates Court for smokers and management caught breaching the law, to be enforced by local environmental health officers.

Almost 5,000 Victorians die of smoking-related illness every year and passive smoking causes an estimated 1,600 Australian deaths a year.