Lighting up a cigarette at bus stops, taxi ranks, sporting fields and children’s playgrounds will soon be banned under new tobacco reforms to be pushed through NSW Parliament.The State Government yesterday said legislation would immediately be introduced to outlaw smoking in playgrounds, public sportsgrounds, swimming pools, transport stops such as taxi ranks and the entrances to public buildings.
Tell us what you really think? Vote in our pollHowever, a ban on smoking in alfresco dining areas will not come into effect until 2015, in a move designed to honour a pre-election memorandum of understanding between the Coalition and the clubs industry.Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery tentatively welcomed the news, but said more information on its implementation was needed.‘‘We are concerned about the effects of smoking and wish to discourage it of course, but there are issues surrounding who will enforce it,’’ Cr Bradbery said.‘‘It seems to me it’s one thing [for the State Government] to make these grand policies and statements, but if the responsibility of enforcement is going to come back on the council, who will supply the money for rangers and staff to put these regulations into effect?’’But a spokeswoman for NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said NSW Health inspectors would take on the extra work.‘‘NSW Health inspectors currently monitor compliance with anti-smoking laws. Their responsibilities will be extended out into the public areas announced by the minister,’’ she said.The spokeswoman confirmed penalties for the new offences would likely be in line with the existing maximum fine of $550 for smoking indoors.Shellharbour Mayor Kellie Marsh, who has been a smoker since her teens, said she believed many parents who smoked were already curbing their habit in public.‘‘I can’t remember the last time I saw someone smoking at a sportsground,’’ she said.‘‘People seem to be doing the right thing naturally already.’’Councillor Marsh said she supported the changes.Smoking-related illness accounts for about 5200 deaths and 44,000 hospitalisations each year in NSW and costs the state’s economy about $8billion annually.