Member for Davidson, Jonathan O'Dea began campaigning on a key aspect of new public smoking legislation more than 20 years ago.
The Tobacco Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, which has been passed by the NSW Parliament's Lower House and is before the Upper House, extends a ban on smoking in public areas including public sportsgrounds.
"In April 1992, as a young North Sydney Councillor, I proposed a notice of motion to declare a section of a grandstand at North Sydney Oval non-smoking," Mr O'Dea said.
"I moved the successful motion after friends and residents complained of difficulties sitting in grandstands near smokers," he said.
The story was broken by the North Shore Times in April 1992, with the heading, 'Non-smoking section for oval stand' and covered further by editorial comment. It was later also highlighted through articles in mainstream metropolitan newspapers and on television news.
The new State Government law, introduced under Health Minister Jillian Skinner goes much further than Council's 1992 motion. It effectively bans smoking within 10 metres of children's playground equipment, public sportsgrounds, swimming pool complexes, public transport stations or stops and entrances to public buildings. From 6 July 2015, it will be extended to cover all commercial outdoor dining areas.
In his supporting speech to Parliament, Mr O'Dea highlighted that in NSW smoking is the leading cause of death and disability; costs the State $8 billion annually; causes 20 to 30 percent of all human cancers and leads to 5,200 deaths and 44,000 hospital admissions every year.
"While adults still have the choice to smoke, this new legislation will provide increased opportunity for non-smokers to reduce their exposure to potentially hazardous second-hand smoke in outdoor public areas," Mr O'Dea said.
"Second-hand smoke is a highly toxic, highly carcinogenic airborne contaminant, about which the United States Surgeon General's 2007 report stated, 'there is no safe level of exposure'.
"Non-smokers have a right to enjoy public outdoor areas free of second-hand smoke and I am especially pleased that this new legislation will better protect children from the dangers of others smoking," Mr O'Dea concluded.
