Victoria's no smoking in shopping centre laws are effective from 1 November 2001. The Bracks Government came to office with a strong commitment to reduce the harmful impact of smoking. As well as the harmful impact of active smoking on smokers themselves, passive smoking can cause heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems in others.
Passive smoking can also cause pregnant women to have underweight babies.
The Government is therefore introducing a number of tobacco reforms, including prohibiting smoking in all enclosed shopping centres. Research tells us that the majority of people support no smoking in shopping centres. In 1999 research conducted by the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria found that 81 per cent of patrons surveyed supported a full ban on smoking in shopping centres. The new laws mean all enclosed areas of retail shopping centres in Victoria as defined under the Tobacco Act 1987, are required to be smoke free. A booklet which explains how the smoke free laws apply to shopping centres will be mailed to all shopping centres shortly.