See our  NEW REVISED (July 2009)  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  health evidence on outdoor areas   ... and very latest  health research on secondhand smoke 

Especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke harm are children and people with underlying health (such as heart and respiratory) conditions, and employees because of their repeated exposure. Smokefree public places policies have been shown to quickly and significantly reduce the incidence of heart attacks.

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. 

Community opinion measured in many surveys strongly supports crowded public places, and all workplaces, being smokefree. 

Who's against it?

The only organised opposition to smokefree outdoor areas (particularly food and drink service areas) has come from the tobacco industry and associated bodies including the Australian Hotels Association (AHA) and the Butt Littering Trust (see below). Tobacco companies and the AHA have issued misleading and totally unfounded claims that smokefree policies will "harm business" and have other "unforeseen consequences".

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 despite several requests 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 and allied groups have instead put them forward as stand-alone alternatives, lobbying councils against extending smokefree areas. The BLT itself has been connected with lobbying against smokefree places.

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

Frankston, Vic to make crowded shopping streets smokefree
9/2/10: The Council of Frankston, just south of Melbourne, is about to make three busy outdoor shopping streets smokefree on a six-month trial - with fines of up to $110. Frankston Mayor Christine Richards says the health benefits will be "worth any flak."  See  Herald Sun report 9/2/10  

ACT dining and drinking areas to be smokefree
8/12/09: The ACT Assembly has passed new laws making all public eating and drinking areas 100% smokefree, however enclosed or otherwise, by the end of 2010. Children's events will also be smokefree.    See  ABC News report 8/12/09 

Hobart public and businesses support smokefree al frescoes
2/12/09: Three quarters of the Hobart public support a City Council push for smokefree outdoor dining areas and other crowded public places in the CBD. The council-approved reform covering Elizabeth Mall, Wellington Court, the bus mall and al frescoes under council control was also supported by 72% of mall businesses. See  ABC news report 2/12/09 

Study of smoke harm for children shows urgency of smokefree public places 
24/11/09: A study showing secondhand smoke harm to blood vessels of toddlers shows why we need public places - especially outdoor dining areas - 100% smokefree.  See 
Protecting Children from Tobacco media release 24/11/09  

Queensland protects children from smoke in cars
30/10/09: Cars carrying children under 16 will be smokefree by law from January 1, 2010 - and the state government will support local councils making shopping centres and bus stops smokefree.  See  Brisbane Times report 30/10/09   Queensland has already made outdoor dining areas, patrolled beaches and near children's playgrounds smokefree by state law.

Manly's diners embrace smokefree al frescoes
22/9/09: A survey of dining businesses in the northern Sydney beachside suburb of Manly show strong support for the smokefree outdoor dining policy introduced over the past four years. The survey of 36 businesses showed: 
- over 85% of businesses thought introducing the policy was not difficult;
- two-thirds of businesses felt customers were were happy with the change, only 8% feeling they were not; and
- two-thirds felt the change had had no impact on their trade, less than 14% feeling there was an ongoing impact (not specified whether positive or negative).

See  Manly Council media release 22/9/09    and  survey summary table    See our briefing paper on  100% smokefree al fresco dining

WA makes playgrounds, patrolled beaches and most al frescoes smokefree
22/9/2009: Legislation has been passed by WA parliament that will make smokefree within 12 months all unlicensed al fresco dining areas (and at least 50% of licensed outdoor dining areas); playgrounds and patrolled beach areas.  See  Protecting Children news 

New York will make playgrounds, parks and beaches smokefree
16/9/09:  The city of New York has moved to make parts or all of its parks and beaches smokefree. The city's popular 2003 ban on smoking in indoor public areas is credited with helping to drive down its smoking rate from 21.5% to 16.9%.  See  New York Times report 16/9/09 

Sydney to make playgrounds smokefree and investigate al fresco smoke bans

15/9/09: Sydney City Council is proposing to make children's playgrounds and community centres smokefree, and will investigate new policy covering outdoor dining areas. The unanimous council committee recommendation will go to Council on September 21 for ratification. See  recommendation  and  Sydney Morning Herald report 15/9/09  

Sea Eagles' home ground goes smokefree
3/8/09: Brookvale Oval, home ground of Rugby League's Manly Sea Eagles, has been made smokefree by unanimous vote of Warringah Council. The vote brings the ground into line with policy at many other grounds - part of a movement to protect people from secondhand smoke harm. The issue was brought to council by an asthmatic 13-year-old fan.  See  Councillor Virginia Laugeson media release featuring ASH Australia, 3/8/09

Surge in councils with smokefree outdoor areas
22/7/09: The number of NSW councils with smokefree outdoor areas policies has doubled in two years, says a new Heart Foundation survey.  See  

Heart Foundation media release 22/7/09   See  full report    See  Sydney Morning Herald report 22/7/09
ASH, the Heart Foundation, Cancer Council, AMA and NSW Local Government and Shires Assoc have been working for two years to encourage councils to extend smokefree outdoor areas to protect children, employees, the environment and public amenity.  See new updated  RESOURCES  for Local Government    

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 to Wagga Councillors answering misleading arguments in a British American Tobacco letter to councillors. BAT tried to derail the smokefree al fresco dining move by its misleading claims.  See   ASH media release 27/11/08       See   excerpts from BATA letter and ASH response 

Community support soars 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 is long associated with the tobacco industry, and has lobbied for many years against smokefree drinking and dining areas.

ACT

The ACT has legislated to make all public food and drink service areas smokefree by the end of 2010.  See  See  ABC News report 8/12/09  and earlier  SmokeFree Australia media release 2/6/09

NSW         See  report  (with tables) on NSW council smokefree policies - as at May 2009 
NSW legislation on smokefree outdoor areas is weak; but almost 60 NSW councils - urban, regional and rural - have adopted smokefree policies, doubling in the past two years.  Note that more councils have adopted measures since the latest chart was compiled in May 2009.

NT

The Northern Territory government has promised to make all staffed outdoor drinking/dining areas of licensed venues smokefree by 2011.  See  SmokeFree Australia news

QUEENSLAND
30/10/09: Queensland has legislated to make cars carrying children under 16 smokefree by 1/1/2010. The state government has also given local councils the right to ban smoking in public transport waiting areas and shopping malls.  See  Brisbane Times report 30/10/09

The Queensland government has already banned smoking in all playgrounds, patrolled beaches and al fresco dining areas throughout the state in its legislation.   Result: High awareness, "extremely high" public support, increased quitting and a move towards becoming "largely self-enforcing".  

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 

TASMANIA
The Tasmanian government has made 50% of all outdoor dining areas smokefree. Hobart City Council has made all CBD al frescoes under its control no-smoking - with strong public approval. 

VICTORIA

State laws are weak. Some local councils have made outdoor crowded shopping areas and some beaches smokefree. 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 
22/9/2009: Legislation has been passed by WA parliament that will make smokefree all unlicensed al fresco dining areas (and at least 50% of licensed outdoor dining areas); playgrounds and patrolled beach areas.  See  Protecting Children news 

RESOURCES  for local government

Updated (July 2009): 
SMOKEFREE OUTDOOR AREAS resource kit for councils!

See Cancer Council NSW background page on  Outdoor smoking 

See ASH / SmokeFree Australia / Protecting Children from Tobacco brief to Councils and businesses (NSW)  on  100% smokefree al fresco dining

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 11/2/10