Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Smoke-free Places) Amendment Bill 2015

Overview

This bill amends Queensland's tobacco laws to ban smoking in many more outdoor public places, including bus stops, outdoor malls, public swimming pools, skate parks, under-age sports grounds, childcare centres and aged care homes. It also stops the sale of smoking products from pop-up stalls at festivals and gives councils a new general power to ban smoking at other outdoor public places.

Who it affects

Smokers face new fines for lighting up in many everyday places, while non-smokers, children and families gain stronger protection from second-hand smoke. Aged care residents, childcare operators, event organisers, tobacco sellers and local councils also face new rules or powers.

Key changes

• Smoking banned at all bus stops, taxi ranks, train stations, ferry terminals and similar public transport waiting points, and within five metres of them (maximum fine 20 penalty units)
• Smoking banned at all outdoor pedestrian malls, public swimming pools, within 10 metres of skate parks, and at under-age sports grounds during events and training
• Smoking banned at all early childhood education and care facilities (including family day care homes while operating) and at residential aged care facilities, except in nominated outdoor smoking places set up by the operator
• Government can declare smoking bans at prescribed national parks and government precincts by regulation
• Selling smoking products from temporary retail outlets (booths, tents, stalls, trailers, mobile structures) becomes an offence with a maximum fine of 140 penalty units
• Councils lose their specific power to make local laws for malls and transport stops (now state-wide) but gain a new general power to ban smoking at other outdoor public places, up to 20 penalty units
• Hookahs used for non-tobacco products are now covered by smoking bans, and displaying part of a hookah counts as displaying a hookah
• Smoke-free area around entrances to non-residential buildings extended from four to five metres