List of smoking bans in Australia
Federal law bans smoking in all Australian Commonwealth government buildings, public transport, airports, and international and domestic flights.
[needs update] On 6 December 1995, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) banned smoking in cafes and restaurants, the first jurisdiction in Australia to do so.
In June 2023, any/all smoking in prisons within the Australian Capital Territory are officially banned by subordinate legislation - to be inline/uniform with all other jurisdictions across Australia.
[4] The Australian Capital Territory's only adult prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre, banned smoking in August 2023.
[5] On 6 September 2001, New South Wales banned smoking in enclosed public areas, except for bars and licensed premises.
The Public Health (Tobacco) Act 2008 creates an offence of smoking in a car with a child under 16 years of age in the vehicle.
[8] However licence premises may set aside an outdoor smoking area for drinking only and must be 4 metres away from restaurant tables and no more than 75% enclosed.
Bans on smoking within 4 metres of a pedestrian access point to a public building, including seated areas, restaurants and cafés has been in effect since 6 July 2015.
Certain restrictions on smoking in enclosed areas of restaurants, licensed clubs and pubs came into force in the Northern Territory on 2 January 2010.
In the Northern Territory it is common for bars in rural areas to disobey the smoking bans that the government has put into place although fines can be issued ranging from $1000 to $8000.
[14][15] Queensland banned smoking 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 metres of non-residential building entrances).
[22] Since April 2012, smoking is not allowed beneath covered public transport waiting areas, including bus, tram, train and taxi shelters.
Smoking in public outdoor dining areas has been banned in South Australia since July 2016 (the second-to-last state to do so).
[citation needed] A ban on smoking in cars carrying children (aged under 18) became effective since 1 January 2010.
Liquor licensed premises that are not subject to a restaurant licence may set aside up to 50 per cent of outdoor eating areas as smoking zones.
