Legislation

The Queensland Government has worked with Cancer Council Queensland to introduce tough anti-smoking laws. These laws were phased in between January 2005 and July 2006. The following areas are smokefree areas:

• Areas within four (4) metres of an entrance to a non-residential building.
• Areas within 10 metres of children’s playground equipment.
• Major sports facilities managed by the Major Sports Facilities Authority.
• Areas between the flags at patrolled beaches.
• Artificial beaches.
• The whole enclosed area of liquor licensed premises.
• All poker machine areas at liquor licensed premises.
• Non-enclosed eating and drinking areas where food or drink is provided as part of a business. Pubs, clubs and casinos may set up Designated Outdoor Smoking Areas where smoking and drinking can occur, however these areas must be controlled by a Smoking Management Plan.

Laws governing the sale tobacco in Queensland include:

• Tobacco products cannot be sold to children under 18 years of age.
• Mandatory training of employees who sell tobacco.
• Restrictions on how tobacco products can be displayed at retail outlets.
• No tobacco advertising or competitions.
• Tobacco vending machines must be located in bar or poker machine areas only.

On January 2010, the newest changes to Queensland’s tobacco laws came into effect. These were:

• A ban on smoking in cars where children under the age of 16 years are present.
• A transfer of power to local government to regulate smoking at pedestrian malls and public transport waiting points such as bus stops, taxi ranks and ferry wharves.

Cancer Council Queensland supports the implementation and enforcement of the laws and will continue to advocate for tobacco control laws to further reduce the prevalence of smoking, reduce cigarette consumption, and reduce tobacco-related illness and deaths in Queensland.

For more information on Queensland's tobacco laws visit the Queensland Health website www.health.qld.gov.au/tobaccolaws or call the Queensland Government’s Tobacco Hotline on 13 13 04.

Advocacy

More information about our current anti-tobacco advocacy campaigns.