Controversial bills on hold post-election

Controversial legislation banning smoking in bars and the cloning of human embryos has been put on hold until after the election.

Due tomorrow to report back to Parliament on the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill and the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, the health select committee was yesterday given six months longer.

MPs agreed to extend the report-back deadline until November 27.

An election is certain to be held before then.

The smoke-free bill's most controversial proposal was a ban on smoking in bars, restaurants and casinos except in designated areas with separate ventilation systems.

Existing premises will have to provide smoking rooms from 2007.

Introduced in 1999, it was originally intended that new premises established from January 1 next year would have to meet the restrictions. That was unlikely to now be the case.

The smoke-free bill also bans smoking on school grounds and introduces tougher penalties for selling tobacco to children.

Tuariki Delamere, a former New Zealand First MP, was the architect of legislation designed to make workplaces safer for employees by reducing their exposure to second-hand smoke.

Labour MP Dianne Yates' Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, which would ban the cloning of human embryos, has been before the committee since 1997.

- NZPA