Smoke Free Laws – extracted from NSW Health webpage
The Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 bans smoking in enclosed public places and certain outdoor public areas. The two main Acts and related regulations concerning smoke-free laws in NSW are identified below. The Smoke-free Environment Act 2000, Smoke-free Environment Amendment Regulation 2009 and the Smoke-free Environment Regulation 2007 ban and regulate smoking in enclosed public places. NSW Health provides guidance on what a ‘smoke-free enclosed public place’ is for the purposes of the Act.
The Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 also bans smoking in the following outdoor public places:
Provision for smoking bans in these outdoor public areas have been have made because:
- they are often visited by children and families and they can be crowded
- they allow limited opportunity for people to avoid second hand smoke
- this approach will achieve an important reduction in many people’s exposure to second hand smoke
- this approach will create a more supportive environment for those who have quit.
To support consistent application of the ban on smoking in commercial outdoor dining areas in licensed premises and restaurants, the ban on smoking within 4 metres of a pedestrian access point to a building will be delayed for these places until 6 July 2015.
Under this Act, Local Health Districts and Statutory Health Corporations can make by-laws banning smoking on NSW Health grounds, such as hospitals, community health services and ambulance stations.
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