Queensland
30th October 2009
Smoking in cars is to be banned in Queensland, when children are in the car.
Anyone caught breaking that rule will face a $200 on the spot fine.
Queensland is banning smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 16.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Paul Lucas said the new laws would start from January 2010 and apply on all public roads.
“These new laws are about reducing the exposure children have to tobacco smoke,” Mr Lucas said in a statement on 29th October 2009.
The legislation was passed in Queensland parliament on 29th October 2009 as part of measures contained in the Health and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2009.
One main reason for this is:
“The level of tobacco smoke inside a vehicle is very high, and we know young children involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke in confined environments have significantly increased health risks, including bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, ear infections and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,”
Smoking in lifts was banned many years ago for the same basic reason.
South Australia
28/3/2007
A ban on smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 are passengers will come into effect in South Australia from May 31 this year following legislation passed in the House of Assembly tonight.
Tasmania
Tasmania banned smoking in cars containing children under the age of 16, to protect them from the health risks of tobacco smoking. This came into effect on 1st January 2008.