Anti-Smoking Loonies Legislation
Pubs rocked by total ban on smokers
Australia has joined the world's toughest anti-tobacco nations, with NSW and Victoria announcing total indoor smoking bans in pubs and clubs by 2007.
The Australian Hotels Association claims it could cost 8000 jobs and half a billion dollars a year in gaming and alcohol tax revenue, but the anti-smoking lobby says the bans do not go far enough.
From July next year, smoking will be restricted to one room in licensed premises, and banned outright from mid-2007.
The Premier, Bob Carr, yesterday quoted Cancer Council of NSW research that found passive smoking is killing NSW bar staff at about half the rate of workers killed by mesothelioma, caused by asbestos inhalation.
But the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association said the delay in a total ban meant more bar staff would die unnecessarily. Its president, John Gallotta, said: "The Government has quoted figures showing that exposure to passive smoking in licensed premises causes between 73 and 97 [bar staff] deaths each year in NSW. That's between 192 and 256 needless deaths before this ban takes effect."
The NSW and Victorian governments made simultaneous announcements on the smoking bans yesterday, surprising Hotel Association members who were attending their national conference in Queensland. The bans bring the two states - and most others in Australia, which have already acted - into line with just a handful of overseas jurisdictions including three US states, New Zealand and Norway.
Smoking will still be allowed in outdoor areas, such as beer gardens, in NSW and Victoria.
Mr Carr denied that allowing pubs and clubs to keep one smoking room - which must be less than 25 per cent of the total indoor area - for three years was designed to protect pokie revenue and taxes.
It is understood the Treasurer, Michael Egan, opposed the bans. Mr Egan, a smoker, is already bearing the brunt of a bitter campaign by Clubs NSW, which is incensed at gaming tax rises he introduced last year. From that perspective, the bans have been seen by some as a significant win for Frank Sartor, the Minister assisting the Minster for Health, who joined the Government at last year's election.
But Mr Carr, announcing the bans at a smoke-free pub at Wolloomooloo, said: "There is one fact that influenced our thinking above all others. For a person working . . . for eight hours a day behind a bar, that is the equivalent of smoking half a packet of cigarettes. I don't do this out of zealotry - I recognise smoking is a personal choice - but we can't ask bar staff to smoke half a packet of cigarettes in a shift."
A NSW Health survey found 23 per cent of respondents would go to pubs and clubs more if smoking was banned. And the Premier's office released figures claiming that since the same ban was imposed in New York, the industry has employed an extra 10,600 workers and business receipts have grown by 8.7 per cent.
But the Hotels Association claims a consultant it sent to New York and Ireland six weeks ago, David Cass, found the bans to be "devastating". General bar take in New York had dropped by 20 per cent and in Ireland by between 15 and 25 per cent. It says the figures used by the NSW Government were comparing post-ban takings in New York with the period after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
All parties agree that in the year after Victoria banned smoking in gaming rooms, poker machine turnover dropped by 5 per cent.
The Hotels Association's president, John Thorpe, said Mr Carr had called him on Sunday to say the announcement was pending, but did not warn him how quickly he would act. "I thought I would come back next week and have some consultation. How can I have any faith in this?"
The NSW Labor Council secretary, John Robertson, dismissed the job concerns, saying "you don't need a job'' if you are dying.
The Government is yet to set penalties, for smokers or licensees failing to comply with the bans, but Mr Sartor said people ignoring publicans' orders not to smoke may be fined.
THE NEW RULES
- Smoking to be restricted to a single room, 25 per cent or less of total indoor area, in pubs and clubs from July 1 next year.
- Gaming rooms expected to become smoking areas.
- Smoking indoors banned completely from July 1, 2007.
- Only exemptions to be private rooms, functions, high-rollers' room at Crown Casino.
Where NSW stands
Victoria announced identical ban to NSW's yesterday.
Tasmania Indoor ban from January 2006.
Queensland Indoor ban from July 2006.
ACT Indoor ban by 2007.
SA Ban phased in by 2008.
Nick O'Malley
October 13, 2004
Australia has joined the world's toughest anti-tobacco nations, with NSW and Victoria announcing total indoor smoking bans in pubs and clubs by 2007.
The Australian Hotels Association claims it could cost 8000 jobs and half a billion dollars a year in gaming and alcohol tax revenue, but the anti-smoking lobby says the bans do not go far enough.
From July next year, smoking will be restricted to one room in licensed premises, and banned outright from mid-2007.
The Premier, Bob Carr, yesterday quoted Cancer Council of NSW research that found passive smoking is killing NSW bar staff at about half the rate of workers killed by mesothelioma, caused by asbestos inhalation.
But the NSW branch of the Australian Medical Association said the delay in a total ban meant more bar staff would die unnecessarily. Its president, John Gallotta, said: "The Government has quoted figures showing that exposure to passive smoking in licensed premises causes between 73 and 97 [bar staff] deaths each year in NSW. That's between 192 and 256 needless deaths before this ban takes effect."
The NSW and Victorian governments made simultaneous announcements on the smoking bans yesterday, surprising Hotel Association members who were attending their national conference in Queensland. The bans bring the two states - and most others in Australia, which have already acted - into line with just a handful of overseas jurisdictions including three US states, New Zealand and Norway.
Smoking will still be allowed in outdoor areas, such as beer gardens, in NSW and Victoria.
Mr Carr denied that allowing pubs and clubs to keep one smoking room - which must be less than 25 per cent of the total indoor area - for three years was designed to protect pokie revenue and taxes.
It is understood the Treasurer, Michael Egan, opposed the bans. Mr Egan, a smoker, is already bearing the brunt of a bitter campaign by Clubs NSW, which is incensed at gaming tax rises he introduced last year. From that perspective, the bans have been seen by some as a significant win for Frank Sartor, the Minister assisting the Minster for Health, who joined the Government at last year's election.
But Mr Carr, announcing the bans at a smoke-free pub at Wolloomooloo, said: "There is one fact that influenced our thinking above all others. For a person working . . . for eight hours a day behind a bar, that is the equivalent of smoking half a packet of cigarettes. I don't do this out of zealotry - I recognise smoking is a personal choice - but we can't ask bar staff to smoke half a packet of cigarettes in a shift."
A NSW Health survey found 23 per cent of respondents would go to pubs and clubs more if smoking was banned. And the Premier's office released figures claiming that since the same ban was imposed in New York, the industry has employed an extra 10,600 workers and business receipts have grown by 8.7 per cent.
But the Hotels Association claims a consultant it sent to New York and Ireland six weeks ago, David Cass, found the bans to be "devastating". General bar take in New York had dropped by 20 per cent and in Ireland by between 15 and 25 per cent. It says the figures used by the NSW Government were comparing post-ban takings in New York with the period after the September 11 terrorist attacks.
All parties agree that in the year after Victoria banned smoking in gaming rooms, poker machine turnover dropped by 5 per cent.
The Hotels Association's president, John Thorpe, said Mr Carr had called him on Sunday to say the announcement was pending, but did not warn him how quickly he would act. "I thought I would come back next week and have some consultation. How can I have any faith in this?"
The NSW Labor Council secretary, John Robertson, dismissed the job concerns, saying "you don't need a job'' if you are dying.
The Government is yet to set penalties, for smokers or licensees failing to comply with the bans, but Mr Sartor said people ignoring publicans' orders not to smoke may be fined.
THE NEW RULES
- Smoking to be restricted to a single room, 25 per cent or less of total indoor area, in pubs and clubs from July 1 next year.
- Gaming rooms expected to become smoking areas.
- Smoking indoors banned completely from July 1, 2007.
- Only exemptions to be private rooms, functions, high-rollers' room at Crown Casino.
Where NSW stands
Victoria announced identical ban to NSW's yesterday.
Tasmania Indoor ban from January 2006.
Queensland Indoor ban from July 2006.
ACT Indoor ban by 2007.
SA Ban phased in by 2008.
Nick O'Malley
October 13, 2004
posted by R7 | 10/12/2004 07:38:00 PM
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