Government may adopt smoking ban bill

By AUDREY YOUNG political editor

The private member's bill banning smoking in bars and restaurants is crawling through Parliament at such a slow pace that the Government may adopt it as its own and pass it under urgency before Christmas.

Opposition parties have been so successful in their delaying tactics that there is a political danger for the Government that it might not be passed until next year.

That means it won't take effect until the following year, election year.

The bill is in the name of Labour Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick and she confirmed that fast-tracking it before Christmas was being considered but House Leader Michael Cullen refused to comment.

Because it is a member's bill, it can be discussed only in a special slot for such bills - every second Wednesday.

And even those times are subject to delay.

United Future leader Peter Dunne is taking a leading role in opposing the bill, the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill.

"I think if the Government was forced to adopt this as a Government measure to ram it through, it would look like the height of arrogance. I think it would be an extraordinarily bad look."

Such matters had always been considered as conscience matters "and it would make a sham of the conscience procedure".

Mr Dunne said it would simply "reinforce in the minds of a lot of people that when the crunch comes, it is a 'we-know best', 'think-pink' agenda that is going to be rammed through no matter what the average citizen thinks".

He has promoted the notion of setting clean-air standards rather than a complete ban but that has been rejected.

As part of last night's delaying tactics during the committee stages, MPs unsuccessfully put up amendments seeking exemptions for various Returned Services Association clubs in their respective areas.

Pakuranga MP Maurice Williamson tried to get an exemption for the Howick RSA.

"They've spent hundreds of thousands on an air management system ... I've seen it actually happen. You can light a cigarette, watch in front of you and, poof, it's gone. Someone a couple of feet from you doesn't get any of that smoke."

The club had also set aside part of the bar and the entire restaurant as smokefree and had polled its own members.

"You choose to go the RSA. They fought for their country.

"They were hooked on this by the Government itself. Now what are we telling these old diggers - 'I know best'."

Act MP Rodney Hide said the bill was a curb on freedom and would make footpaths dangerous areas.

"Under this Helen Clark Government, you are going to walk into the cigar bar, have your wee brandy, buy your beautiful Cuban cigar and then walk out on to Parnell Rd in the cold to smoke it.

"It's the Hele-ban for smokers."

The footpath in Parnell Rd would now be a dangerous place to be.

"Now you won't be able to get passed because they are out there puffing away. Where is the freedom in that?"

Ms Chadwick said she was heartened by the number of publicans who had accepted that the bill would be passed and were planning to build outdoor spaces for smokers.

The bill is due to return to the House on December 3.

Bar on smoking

* The proposed legislation bans smoking in bars, clubs, restaurants and casinos.

* The bill imposes fines on bar owners of up to $4000 for breaches.

* People would still be able to smoke on the decks and in beer gardens of licensed premises.