NSW: Smoking bill before upper house

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2000
NSW: Smoking bill before upper house

Smokers arriving in Sydney for the Olympic Games will find themselves banned from lighting
up in cafes, restaurants and shopping centres if legislation before New South Wales parliament
passes through today.

Analysts expect the upper house to debate the Smoke-free environment bill when it resumes
later today.

The bill has already passed through the lower house, and now has to make it through
the upper house where it's thought to have widespread support.

If passed, the smoking ban in restaurants and cafes around the state would become effective
immediately.

The bill has received widespread support from unions and anti-smoking groups, but is
opposed by the management of Star City because it includes a ban on smoking at the casino's
gaming tables.

Pubs and clubs will have an extra 12 months to introduce the bans, to allow them to
deal with problems of communal dining and drinking areas.

AAP RTV jw/ah/rt

KEYWORD: SMOKING (SYDNEY)

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