List of smoking bans in Australia

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The following is a list of smoking bans in Australia. The list shows federal, state and local laws. For other smoking bans and restrictions, see the worldwide list of smoking bans.

Federal law bans smoking in all Commonwealth government buildings, on most public transport, and in airports and international and domestic flights. Further bans are in place but are governed by individual states. Currently all Australian states and territories have banned smoking in enclosed public places, particularly workplaces and restaurants.

• • Tasmania was the first Australian state to introduce a total indoor smoking ban in January 2006
  • Western Australia was the second Australian state to ban smoking in all indoor areas of pubs, bars and clubs from July 2006. Smoking to be permitted in alfresco and courtyard areas (outdoor eating areas) and the international room at the Burswood casino. The Health Minister has regulated to allow footpath drinking without food to accommodate smokers: for government guidelines on breakout areas, visit: www.rgl.wa.gov.au/liquor/policy/breakout_areas.pdf
  • Queensland Smoking is prohibited in all pubs, clubs, restaurants and workplaces, as well as in commercial outdoor eating and drinking areas and in outdoor public places (e.g., patrolled beaches, children's playground equipment, major sport stadiums, and within 4 meters of non-residential building entrances). Since 1 July 2006, premises holding a hotel, club or casino liquor licence can designate up to 50% of the outdoor liquor licensed area as a smoking and drinking area. In this area no food or drink can be served, no food can be consumed, no entertainment can be offered and there must be no gaming machines provided. A "buffer", which can be either a 2 metre wide area or a 2.1 metre high screen that is impervious to smoke, must be on the area's perimeter wherever it is adjacent to other parts of the outdoor area usually accessed by patrons. Premises that choose to have such an area must have a smoking management plan for the premises that complies with legislative requirements. For all other liquor licensed premises, and non-liquor licensed premises, from 1 July 2006 there is no smoking at any outdoor eating or drinking place.
  • In the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) a smoking ban will apply to all enclosed public places by December 2006. However, if the proportion of the public place that is is “open" (open to the outdoors) is greater than 25% of the total surface area of the ceiling or roof (assuming that this is flat) and the walls and windows (whether fixed or able to be opened), then the premises will not be considered ‘substantially enclosed’ and therefore, the smoking prohibition in the Act does not apply
  • New South Wales, In addition to a public place ban, most of the floor area of pubs, bars, and clubs have to be smoke-free. A total "enclosed space" ban is to be introduced in July 2007. In this state, a public place will be considered substantially enclosed only if the total area of ceiling and wall surfaces are more than 75% of its total notional ceiling and wall area. Windows and doors may be counted as open space only if they are locked open to the outside for the duration of trading hours. 10% of the total ceiling and wall area must remain open to the elements at all times.
  • Victoria Enclosed public place smoking ban will be in place by 1 July 2007. However, smoking will be permitted in non enclosed dining or drinking areas if the area has a roof and walls that cover no more than 75% of the total notional wall area (ie if the combined wall and roof space is 25% open to the outdoors). Smoking will also be allowed in: balconies; verandas; courtyards; marquees; and footpaths.
  • South Australia (SA) will be totally smokefree indoors by the end of 2007. However, under the SA Tobacco Products Regulation Act 1997, a place or area is only "enclosed" if it is fully enclosed or is at least partially covered by a ceiling and has walls such that the total area of the ceiling and wall surfaces exceeds 70 per cent of the total notional ceiling and wall area. Presently, smoking is banned within 1m of bar; 1 bar room in multi-bar venues is non-smoking; for single bar venues, 50% of bar room non-smoking, including 50% of the bar counter; 50% of bar areas at the Adelaide Casino; 25% of the gaming machines to be non-smoking (with 1m non-smoking buffer zone around these machines); dining is totally smoke-free (Tobacco Products Regulation Act 1997 s 47); businesses prohibited from advertising enclosed smoking areas (s45); and ban mobile display units such as tobacco trays (s38). Since end October 2005, 50% of the gaming machines to be non-smoking (with same buffer zone (s47)).
  • The Northern Territory government has announced it will not ban smoking in pubs, but has ensured that smokers and non-smokers will have equal amenity.^{[citation needed]}