May 26

Smoking ban call in cars with kids

THE Western Australian Government will consider joining other states by passing laws that ban smoking in cars carrying children as passengers.
Leading health groups have lobbied the Carpenter Government to introduce the measure, already passed into law in South Australia and Tasmania and now being considered in New South Wales and Victoria.

West Australian groups, including the Cancer Council and the Australian Medical Association, yesterday called on state Health Minister Jim McGinty to legislate to stop people potentially harming children with their cigarette smoke in cars.

The director of Tobacco Programs at the Cancer Council, Denise Sullivan, said the community also wanted greater control on smoking in public places.

“The reality is that today most people don’t smoke,” Ms Sullivan said.

“People are accustomed to smoke-free environments, and increasingly the community is demanding more public spaces be smoke-free.

“We believe there would be public support for the current legislation to be amended to cover outdoor eating areas, beaches, parks, sporting arenas including swimming pools, children’s playgrounds, transport waiting areas, outdoor markets, entertainment venues and cars carrying children.”

Mr McGinty welcomed the groups’ submission, but would not be drawn on when he would draft anti-smoking legislation.

He said Western Australia had the lowest rate of smoking in the nation.

“I think most people are revolted when they see a mother or a father driving along in a car smoking with a young baby in the car,” he said.

“They are putting that child in a gas chamber. That’s not good enough.”

However, Mr McGinty said he would not consider legislating on women who smoked while pregnant.

Under the proposed new laws in NSW, parents who smoke while their children are in the car could face a $250 fine.

South Australia became the first state to ban adults from lighting up in cars with children in the back seat last May.

The Tasmanian legislation came into effect in January, with fines of up to $2000 for people smoking in cars carrying children.

Victorian Premier John Brumby told state parliament earlier this year he would consider a similar ban on smoking in cars where children were passengers.