Friday, 10 December 2004

Dunne seeks freedom for Kiwi smokers

United Future leader, Peter Dunne, is renewing his assault on ‘the PC anti-smoking law that the Labour Government is ramming down the throat of the Kiwi smoker’.

On the day that the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Bill comes into force, Mr Dunne has announced he is sponsoring a new Member’s Bill to regulate smoking in bars, clubs, restaurants and other public places.

“The Smoke-free Environments (Air Quality Standards) Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 (the principal Act) so that the prohibition on allowing smoking in areas that are not open areas in licensed premises, restaurants, casinos, and certain gambling machine venues applies only if, as a result of smoking in the relevant part of those premises or places, the air does not meet a minimum air quality standard.

“Rather than just shoving people into the street if they want to smoke and threatening bar owners with swingeing fines if their patrons light up inside, why not allow them the freedom of choice?

“The technology exists that will allow bar owners to preserve a minimum standard of air quality while allowing their patrons the pleasure of a smoke inside the premises.

“This is a win-win solution; smokers aren’t made to feel like leprous pariahs and the health of bar and restaurant staff isn’t threatened by tobacco smoke,” said Mr Dunne.

ENDS

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