MPs back law to stub out smoking in pubs

Legislation to ban smoking in pubs, clubs, restaurants and casinos passed its second reading in Parliament yesterday with a strong majority and is likely to become law.

MPs voted 76-39 to send it on to its committee stage, and when it gets through that it will be up for its final, third, reading.

It is a member's bill promoted by Labour's Steve Chadwick, and all her colleagues supported it.

The Greens put their nine votes behind it, 24 National members opposed it with three in favour.

New Zealand First was split: nine against and four in favour. Act voted against it and United Future supported it but will propose changes.

The controversial bill will come into force 12 months after it is passed, which is likely to be before the end of this year. It will also ban smoking in all public transport.

Supporters argue it is vital to protect hospitality trade workers from second-hand smoke. Opponents describe it as an offence against individual liberty.



United Future's Peter Dunne is going to put up an amendment replacing the ban with a clean-air standard. The party has not decided how it will vote if the amendment is rejected, but Labour and the Greens have the numbers to get the bill through.

Opponents of the bill include NZ First's Dail Jones and National's Gerry Brownlee.

Mr Jones said he was an asthmatic non-smoker but would not support the bill.

"What sort of country are we going to be? You can become a prostitute legally but you can't have a smoke in a bar."

Mr Brownlee accused the Government of changing the country's social fabric: "If it's so bad, then come in with a full ban."

Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor is a supporter: "Three-quarters of New Zealanders don't smoke, they have a right to a smokefree environment."

Green MP Sue Kedgley said the bill would do more to improve health than any other legislation this parliamentary term.

National's Paul Hutchison, a doctor who went against the majority in his party, said the "ground-breaking" bill had his full support.

- NZPA