By Tania Phillips
ASHTRAY and cigarette butt bins in Southern Downs CBDs are soon to become a thing of the past, in light of Queensland’s new anti-smoking laws which take effect from this month.
Southern Downs mayor Tracy Dobie said the council had a responsibility to act in accordance with the new laws.
“In our case, council staff are in the process of removing ash trays and cigarette butt bins from the CBDs of our towns in the interest of public health,” she said.
“This action also recognises that most of the CBD areas will be in the ‘no smoking’ legislated zone of five metres from the doorway of a commercial building.
“The council has consulted with the Chambers of Commerce about the removal, and they are in favour of this action and will be informing their members.
“The new laws effectively make the CBDs a smoke-free zone.
“It will be virtually impossible for people to smoke in the main street due to the five metre rule.
“Taking steps to remove the ashtrays and butt bins also minimises the chance that the public will inadvertently light up in a no-smoking area.
“If we leave them in place, it could send the wrong message that it’s OK to smoke in a banned area.”
Southern Downs environmental services manager Tim O’Brien said there were a number of precincts that fell under the jurisdiction of local government with enforcement remaining at the discretion of councils across Queensland.
“The council is consulting with other local governments about the development and introduction of a policy or local law to ban smoking in other council-owned facilities like sports clubs, etc,” Mr O’Brien said.
“It is anticipated that a new policy will be referred to the September general meeting of the council for consideration.”
The State Government is providing education and awareness campaigns across the state to inform the broader community of their responsibilities under the new smoking laws.
Queensland Health environmental health officers will be enforcing smoking bans across Queensland and will have the responsibility to issue individuals warnings and on-the-spot fines, initiate legal proceedings for breaches of the tobacco laws, respond to complaints, inspect premises and provide advice about the new tobacco laws.
From 1 September, the new laws ban smoking within five metres of public transport waiting points such as bus stops, taxi ranks and ferry terminals; ban smoking within 10 metres of playing and viewing areas during organised under-18 sporting events; ban smoking within 10 metres of skate parks; ban smoking within five metres of early childhood education and care services, including kindergartens and places offering after school hour care; ban smoking at all outdoor pedestrian malls; ban smoking within five metres of all residential aged care facilities, outside of designated areas; increase the smoke-free buffer at all non-residential building entrances from four to five metres; ban smoking at pedestrian precincts around prescribed State Government buildings; ban smoking at public swimming pool facilities; ban the sale of tobacco products from temporary retail outlets; and empower local government to ban smoking in any public space not covered by a state-wide smoking bans.
In addition, from 1 February next year smoking will also be banned within 10 metres of in-use campsites and any public facilities such as picnic tables, toilet blocks, barbecues, visitor information centres, shelters, jetties and boat ramps.
There will also be an increase in the smoke-free buffer at all government, commercial and non-residential building entrances from four to five metres.
In addition, local councils will also have the powers to ban smoking in any other public space. For further information about the new laws, please visit the Queensland Government website www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/atods/smoking/laws/index.html
The Queensland Government website also provides further information on affected outdoor public areas www.health.qld.gov.au/public-health/topics/atod/tobacco-laws/outdoor/default.asp
