Brimbank council has thrown its support behind new smoking bans which come into force near childcare centres, kindergartens and other locations on June 30.
The bans will prohibit smoking in the grounds of and within four metres of the entrances to all Victorian childcare centres, kindergartens, preschools, and primary and secondary schools.
The bans will also operate within four metres of an entrance to indoor play centres, public hospitals, registered community health centres and certain state government buildings.
‘No smoking’ signs will be placed at each of these locations once the bans are in place.
The state government’s Tobacco Amendment Bill 2014 will also quadruple the penalty for possession of illicit tobacco by retailers and wholesalers up to $177,000.
Brimbank council city development director Stuart Menzies said the council “fully supports” the amendment but said there were no immediate plans to enforce further outdoor smoking bans across the city.
“These changes reflect concerns about both the health issues related to smoking and efforts to improve the amenity of public areas where people, especially children, visit,” he said.
The state government has tightened outdoor smoking laws in recent years with bans already in place in enclosed workplaces, including restaurants and shopping centres, covered areas of train platforms, bus and tram shelters, at underage events and enclosed licensed premises, including gaming rooms.
Smokers can be fined $147 for smoking in a no-smoking area.
The national drug strategy survey found fewer Australians smoked than ever before and rates had halved since 1991, to 13.3 per cent in 2013.
The survey also found the proportion of dependent children exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke inside the home had declined from 31 per cent in 1995 to 3.7 per cent in 2013.
