By BRIDGET SCOTT
A NEW State Government ban will mean adults will no longer be allowed to smoke in areas commonly used by children in an attempt to reduce children’s exposure to smoke.
The ban, which will be introduced as of 1 April, will apply to all councils in Victoria and be enforceable by council officers.
These bans will affect recreational areas including playgrounds, skate parks, swimming pools and sporting venues during underage games.
Cardinia Shire Mayor Graeme Moore said Council encouraged residents to support the smokefree areas when the new legislation comes into force.
“We are not telling people they can’t smoke at all but we are encouraging smokers to be aware of the new laws and to be mindful of the impact smoking can have on not only their own health but the health of others,” Cr Moore said.
“Smoking has no place in playgrounds or other places where children are likely to be present.
“This will be a Victoria-wide position, and Council will be doing what we can to support it.”
Georgia Davies-Jackson, team leader of the Preventative Health Partnership at Cardinia Shire Council, said consultation papers were sent to all local councils in May last year to get an indication of how many places would be affected in the new ban. Ms Davies-Jackson said the announcement was made prior to Christmas and people who are found smoking at these venues or events may be prosecuted under the new act. Ms Davies-Jackson said these bans will be introduced to stop children being exposed to smoking behaviours, encourage smokers to quit, and prevent former smokers from relapsing through limiting the areas they can light up.
“The younger people start smoking, the more likely they are to become regular, addicted smokers and as such locations often used by young people are being targeted,” she said.
“Adults are role models for children and the more often children and young people see people smoking in different settings, the more likely they are to have view that smoking is socially acceptable.”
“Whilst the bans are enforceable, council’s approach will be to educate the community and call out to smokers to consider others when smoking and abide by the bans”.
This will follow on from a ban which stopped smoking at all Victorian patrolled beaches in designated areas, plus the plain packaging of tobacco products and other bans which including prohibiting adults from smoking in sheltered areas such as bus and tram stops, or in motor vehicles, when carrying a person under the age of 18.
Funding is provided by the state government to assist in the implementation of these bans and notify the community about the introduction of the new bans.
BREAK OUT
On the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette Facebook page, smokers and non-smokers debated the legalities of the ban and whether it was fair for the council to dictate.
“I’m not a parent or a smoker so I might not have the right to comment but is it necessary to smoke in areas where children are playing or exercising if the aim behind it is to encourage enjoyment and health promotion?” Linda commented.
But some smokers commented on the page that it was an unfair move and discriminated against a group of people.
“There are a couple of things people seem to forget, one smoking is not illegal (our powers that be cannot afford to make it so) and two councils do not actually have the legal right to impose such bans,” Kerry commented.
“I am all for common sense and I do not smoke around parks but I am sick of more and more rules to live by.
“We are not only becoming a nanny state but a nanny country.
“This is not a democracy it is fascism at its finest.”
Caitlin commented that as a heavy smoker, she used common sense when she chooses to light up.
“If I see a child coming I always put my smoke to the other side so I’m not getting smoke all over them,” she said.
