See our  SMOKE-FREE OUTDOOR AREAS  resource kit for councils

and other  RESOURCES  for Local Government

See  LATEST NEWS  on smokefree local areas  and  WHAT'S BEEN DONE

Not only state and territory but local government can play a huge role in making communities safer, healthier and cleaner - by making local places (and their near surroundings) smokefree. These can include:

The arguments
For some of these areas, the health arguments on secondhand smoke in crowded outdoor or partly-enclosed areas are strong - especially in al fresco dining or other staffed areas where workers are repeatedly or continuously exposed; or bus shelters involving extended waits in partly-enclosed areas. See  latest health evidence on outdoor areas   ... and more health research on secondhand smoke 

The case for making some other areas smokefree is based more on environmental benefit - for example, the butt litter problem on beaches, and litter or fire risks in parks. 

In still other cases, there are safety or public amenity issues. And there is a concern to reduce "normalising" smoking in view of children in areas like playgrounds and public pools.  

Reducing butt litter - what works and what doesn't

ASH encourages councils to be aware of the independent research on what kinds of measures actually reduce litter - and to beware misleading claims and ineffective strategies. 

The tobacco industry has sought to portray itself as "socially responsible" by supporting alternate strategies for reducing butt litter - without reducing or limiting smoking. British American Tobacco (BAT) Australia has founded and funded the Butt Littering Trust (BLT) which seeks partnerships with state and local government to distribute "butt bins" and educate smokers to "butt it then bin it". 

The BLT has claimed its campaigns have led to significant reductions in butt litter; but it has not provided meaningful comparisons with other strategies, with areas where it does not operate, or with pre-existing trends - or discussed how other factors (e.g. smokefree places laws or falling smoking rates) might have contributed. 

Independent evidence suggests that BLT-type strategies are not effective. See  Extended Producer Responsibility report 2005-2006    p. 21: “impact of current activities funded by cigarette manufacturers has not delivered a reduction in butt littering.”   

Such disposal/education approaches may contribute as part of a broader strategy including smokefree policies; however, tobacco companies have instead put them forward as stand-alone alternatives, lobbying councils against extending smokefree areas. The BLT itself has been connected with anti-smokefree places lobbying.

Councils beware!  See  LATEST NEWS  below, BATA letter 2008 to Wagga councillors and ASH response  and 2006 article on  BAT's Butt Litter Trust   

LATEST NEWS

ACT food & drinks service areas to be smokefree by end of 2010

2/6/09: The ACT government has promised to make all public food and drink service areas smokefree by the end of 2010. The move is in line with international law, OH&S, research evidence and community opinion.   See  SmokeFree Australia media release 2/6/09

Wagga beats BAT to protect children, workers 

31/3/09: Wagga Wagga City Council (NSW) has been applauded for its decision to go ahead with smokefree playgrounds and al fresco dining areas in the face of aggressive tobacco industry interference. See  ASH media release 31/3/09

ASH wrote in November 2008 to Wagga Councillors answering misleading arguments of British American Tobacco Australasia in a letter to councillors. BATA tried to derail the smokefree al fresco dining move by wrongly claiming that such policies hurt business and are opposed by tobacco control experts, and that BAT's Butt Littering Trust offers "evidence-based" alternatives.  See   ASH media release 27/11/08       See   excerpts from BATA letter and ASH response 

Meanwhile community support continues to soar for smokefree dining.  See NSW survey findings in  Aust & NZ Journal of Public Health article

WHAT'S BEEN DONE

See on Australian Hotels Association website,  national chart  of smokefree local council policies. Not sure how up to date. The AHA has lobbied against smokefree drinking and dining areas.

ACT

The ACT government has promised to make all public food and drink service areas smokefree by the end of 2010.  See  SmokeFree Australia media release 2/6/09

NSW         See  NSW councils smokefree policies chart   as at May 2008 - note many more since.
More than 50 NSW councils - urban, regional and rural - have adopted smokefree policies.  Note that more councils have adopted measures since the chart was compiled.

QUEENSLAND
12/11/08: Queensland has introduced legislation to make cars carrying children under 16 smokefree - just 18 months after rejecting the move. The bill also proposes to give local councils the right to ban smoking in public transport waiting areas, including bus shelters.  See  Qld health minister's media release 12/11/08   

The Queensland government has already banned smoking in all playgrounds, patrolled beaches and al fresco dining areas throughout the state in its legislation.   Result: "A high level of public and industry acceptance" of the changes.  See  Qld health dept report 2008

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
14/11/07: The Greens have introduced a Private Member's Bill into the SA parliament to ban smoking in children's playgrounds - as Queensland has done (above).  See  SA Greens media release 14/11/07 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 
June 2009: Legislation to make all al fresco dining areas smokefree (except licensed venues, who will have to make at least 50% of theirs smokefree) is on the brink of passage through WA parliament, with a Private Members' Bill supported by both major parties. 

In July 2007 The city of Fremantle in WA voted to start phasing in a total ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas. See  ABC news report 26/7/07  and earlier  National Heart Foundation media release 15/3/07

RESOURCES  for local government

SMOKEFREE OUTDOOR AREAS resource kit for councils!

See Cancer Council NSW background page on  Outdoor smoking 

Our earlier Tobacco Facts for Local Government (November 2004) urged local councils to “Join the Smokefree Communities Snowball”!  The factsheet featured early moves in Queensland, around Sydney and in rural and regional areas.   

Page last updated 8/6/09