The Victorian government won't put a timeline on banning smoking in outdoor dining areas, despite being the last state to adopt such a policy.
The state opposition wants smoking in eating areas banned but Health minister Jill Hennessy says it's vital to consult before bringing in any new laws.
Subscribe for FREE to the HealthTimes magazine
"What is important, under this new government, is that we do the work and we do the work properly," Ms Hennessy told reporters on Monday.
Labor's next set of tobacco-related reform would be wide-ranging, with emphasis on getting people to quit, she said.
Melbourne City Council is talking about making outdoor dining smoke free in its municipality, which includes the CBD.
Greens health spokeswoman Colleen Hartland said it didn't make sense for smokefree outdoor dining to be implemented one council area at a time, and the Greens would re-introduce laws on the issue during the next sitting week of parliament.
"We need consistent laws across the state so it is a level playing field for all pubs, clubs, cafe and restaurants," she said in a statement.
SMOKING IN VICTORIA:
- About 13.5 per cent continue to light up
- More than 4000 deaths per year tied to smoking-related cancers
Comments