Members of the Queensland Parliament have unanimously voted for comprehensive new laws to help eliminate smoking in public places, positioning Queensland as the world’s most progressive jurisdiction on tobacco control.
From September 1, the Bill will see new bans on smoking at public transport waiting points, pedestrian malls, aged care facilities, specified national parks and at or near children’s organised sporting events and skate parks.
The move follows many years of advocacy by Cancer Council Queensland, along with help from you – our volunteers and supporters – and will save many lives.
Support for smoke free spaces is higher than ever – and we know communities across the state will celebrate this achievement safe in the knowledge they will now have legal safeguards against the very real dangers of passive smoking.
The new laws will safeguard Queenslanders from second-hand smoke, encourage more smokers to quit and prevent more young people from taking up this lethal habit.
Around 3700 Queenslanders die from a tobacco-related disease each year and at least one Queenslander a day also dies from second-hand smoke exposure – having never smoked a cigarette in their life.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Queensland – accounting for 21 per cent of around 8600 cancer deaths recorded each year.
We have congratulated Members of Parliament and the Health Minister Cameron Dick on the passage of this Bill, which raises the global benchmark in tobacco control and sets a new standard for public health and wellbeing.
Again, the achievement is a credit to the skill and hard work of our staff and volunteers and to our Board and Committee members who have guided and championed our advocacy strategy. Thank you.
You can read more about the new laws in detail here.