New laws extend smoke-free zones to cars, alfresco, Royal Show Article from: PerthN

as posted here

WA smokers have been put on notice as major reforms are set to accelerate the growth of smoke free communities throughout the State, says AMA(WA).

“Legislation passed by the Upper House last night to extend smoking restrictions to areas such as alfresco restaurants and in cars carrying children, is an historic step forward in the fight against the dangers of passive smoking,” said association President Prof Gary Geelhoed.
“And later this month the Royal Show will become the world’s largest smoke free community event when smoking is banned anywhere within the Showground.

“Last year more than 400,000 people attended the show -- half of them under 17 -- and it’s fantastic that this number of children will be able to spend a day at the show without inhaling second hand smoke.”

Prof Geelhoed said the community and the medical profession owed a debt of thanks to Alfred Cove MLA, Dr Janet Woollard, for her determination to push her private member’s Bill through Parliament, despite intense lobbying by the hotel and tobacco industry to derail the legislation.

“This legislation still has some formalities to go through in Parliament, but it will eventually save lives and reduce many smoking-related illnesses as well as lower the rate of respiratory diseases among children,” said Prof Geelhoed.

“It will also lower absenteeism in the workplace and reduce the cost of healthcare in WA which is already facing huge funding difficulties.”

Prof Geelhoed said Healthway and the Royal Agricultural Society deserved praise for taking the responsible healthy step of having a smoke-free Royal Show.

“Thousands of grateful parents and grand parents will know their kids can spend a day at the show without facing the risk of second-hand tobacco smoke,” he said.

“We should remember that only a few years ago our kids had to sit at Subiaco Oval with 40,000 football spectators and be drowned in smoke.”


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