We know what the rules dictate here in NSW. But what about other states? Are they as strict or more lenient towards smoking in public transportation stops, or just smoking in general? Their attitude towards it might dictate how and where NSW fits in their ability to battle smoking. This posts analysis is on Queensland. The Beautiful state home to the magnificent Gold Coast, and blooming Brisbane.
It seems Queensland is one of the most active states who’re against smoking in any place that a significant amount of people gathers including public transportation stops.
Even the Queensland Health Minister Cameron Dick was quite vocal about this issue and stated that “Smoking, even second-hand smoke, is proven to cause cancer” and ” People in malls or queuing for a bus or train won’t have to inhale second-hand tobacco smoke. This supports my previous blog about the dangers of secondhand and third-hand smoke and it personally gives me hope that someone in power has knowledge about it and cares.
It seems Mr Dick thinks cigarettes costs Queensland more than $6 billion each year and causes around 3,700 deaths and 36,000 cases of hospitalisation.
That is a staggering amount of money and resources spent on a stupid addiction. Even spending half of that money on finding ways for people to stop it seems economically more stable and smart. Queensland is indeed an interesting state. After looking at the official governmental site (https://www.qld.gov.au) about this issue, you can find what exactly are they hoping to achieve with their rules and campaigns. They are stated as the following:
– Reduces exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
– Supports smokers trying to quit
– Discourages young people from taking up the habit.
Some in-depth work has been done by the government in Queensland and that is very admirable, don’t you think? At first it might seem only to reduce the environmental and personal impact, but the banning of smoking in the public transportation stops (and the other places) tries to tackle the problem by attacking the main cause of it… young people casually taking up the habit. If schools, homes and any other areas are smoke-free then it is easier for kids to stay away from it by not being affected negatively by what they see. It also gives the smokers a reason to refrain and thus forces them (in a good way) to drop their bad habits.
Keep up the good work Queensland!
Bus-STOP Smoking! 