Smoking ban bylaw review brought forward

Some Australian councils used warnings and fines of about A$100 ($107.91) for repeat offenders. Photo / Getty Images

The question of making a bylaw to stop smoking on beaches, in parks and in many other public places in Auckland has been brought forward after a slew of submissions called for a ban in outdoor dining areas.

Previously the council was to look at the idea next year, but members today agreed its formal review of smokefree policy will start in the second half of this year.

Under the 2013 policy, which mostly relies on voluntary compliance, signs have been placed asking people not to smoke in parks, public transport stations and some other public places. The policy provides for the review to look at the bylaw question and extending the passive smokefree status to areas including outdoor dining spaces, urban centres, beaches and common areas of council housing.

A bylaw review panel was swamped last year by more than 1300 public submissions calling for outdoor dining areas to be made smokefree as soon as possible.

Council member Denise Krum, who chaired the review, said, "The panel felt keenly the passion of the submitters on this topic and the need to expedite the review of the smokefree policy."

Cancer Society Auckland division chief executive John Loof said the current policy was weak.

"While it was a step in the right direction, this approach to smokefree is quite passive. A smokefree bylaw would give the policy more clout. We know from overseas that when there is a smokefree bylaw people are much more likely to comply."

Smokefree outdoor dining laws were being implemented in every state of Australia and proving successful. A Queensland study had found that 98 per cent of people complied, with very little need for enforcement.

"A bylaw will support people quitting, and our children will see less smoking and be less likely to start," Mr Loof said. "New Zealand has committed to being Smokefree by 2025 which is only 10 years away. The sooner the council conducts its review, the more likely we will be to achieve that target."