❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the government's policy on smoke-free workplaces, workers' compensation claims for smoking-related illnesses, penalties for businesses violating workplace smoking regulations, and plans for a complete ban on smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.
AnsweredQoN 844Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) What is the Government’s policy on the provision of smoke-free workplaces?
(2) What is the total number of claims and payments made over the last five years for workers’ compensation claims for smoking-related illnesses?
(3) Under the workplace smoking provisions of the
Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996
, can businesses in the hospitality sector be fined or otherwise penalised for subjecting their employees to smoking in the workplace?
(4) Is it this Government’s intent, through amendment of the
Health (Smoking in Enclosed Public Places) Regulations 1999
, to set a date for the introduction of a complete ban on smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces ensuring equal protection for all workers?
(2) What is the total number of claims and payments made over the last five years for workers’ compensation claims for smoking-related illnesses?
(3) Under the workplace smoking provisions of the
Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996
, can businesses in the hospitality sector be fined or otherwise penalised for subjecting their employees to smoking in the workplace?
(4) Is it this Government’s intent, through amendment of the
Health (Smoking in Enclosed Public Places) Regulations 1999
, to set a date for the introduction of a complete ban on smoking in all indoor public places and workplaces ensuring equal protection for all workers?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 August 2003
Responded by
Minister for Racing and Gaming representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection
Response time
56 days
On 25 June 2003, the State Government announced plans to substantially tighten smoking regulations for enclosed public places and in particular, hospitality venues. The Government’s response has arisen from a report on a discussion paper for the Operation of Part 1XB of the Health Act 1911 and the Health (Smoking in Public Places) Regulation 1999 . (2) The workers compensation claims classification system does not separately identify the category ‘smoking-related illnesses’. (3) Where Western Australian employers are in breach of their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1966 , which deal with smoking in the workplace, WorkSafe will investigate and take appropriate action. Between March 1999 and May 2003, WorkSafe issued 14 prohibition notices and 103 improvement notices under the provisions of these regulations. (4) The Government has adopted a ‘phasing-in approach’ to achieve smoke-free enclosed public places in Western Australia. Currently up to two bars or lounge areas in hotels, taverns and other licensed venues may be exempt. This will be reduced to one exemption per venue by 31 December 2006. In addition, restrictions will be increased from 50 to 80 percent of floor space in nightclubs and cabarets by June 30, 2004 and will be completely smoke-free by December 31, 2006. The current exemptions for Burswood Casino are removed except for the international gaming room.
(2) The workers compensation claims classification system does not separately identify the category ‘smoking-related illnesses’. (3) Where Western Australian employers are in breach of their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1966 , which deal with smoking in the workplace, WorkSafe will investigate and take appropriate action. Between March 1999 and May 2003, WorkSafe issued 14 prohibition notices and 103 improvement notices under the provisions of these regulations. (4) The Government has adopted a ‘phasing-in approach’ to achieve smoke-free enclosed public places in Western Australia. Currently up to two bars or lounge areas in hotels, taverns and other licensed venues may be exempt. This will be reduced to one exemption per venue by 31 December 2006. In addition, restrictions will be increased from 50 to 80 percent of floor space in nightclubs and cabarets by June 30, 2004 and will be completely smoke-free by December 31, 2006. The current exemptions for Burswood Casino are removed except for the international gaming room.
(3) Where Western Australian employers are in breach of their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1966 , which deal with smoking in the workplace, WorkSafe will investigate and take appropriate action. Between March 1999 and May 2003, WorkSafe issued 14 prohibition notices and 103 improvement notices under the provisions of these regulations. (4) The Government has adopted a ‘phasing-in approach’ to achieve smoke-free enclosed public places in Western Australia. Currently up to two bars or lounge areas in hotels, taverns and other licensed venues may be exempt. This will be reduced to one exemption per venue by 31 December 2006. In addition, restrictions will be increased from 50 to 80 percent of floor space in nightclubs and cabarets by June 30, 2004 and will be completely smoke-free by December 31, 2006. The current exemptions for Burswood Casino are removed except for the international gaming room.
(4) The Government has adopted a ‘phasing-in approach’ to achieve smoke-free enclosed public places in Western Australia. Currently up to two bars or lounge areas in hotels, taverns and other licensed venues may be exempt. This will be reduced to one exemption per venue by 31 December 2006. In addition, restrictions will be increased from 50 to 80 percent of floor space in nightclubs and cabarets by June 30, 2004 and will be completely smoke-free by December 31, 2006. The current exemptions for Burswood Casino are removed except for the international gaming room.
(2) The workers compensation claims classification system does not separately identify the category ‘smoking-related illnesses’. (3) Where Western Australian employers are in breach of their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1966 , which deal with smoking in the workplace, WorkSafe will investigate and take appropriate action. Between March 1999 and May 2003, WorkSafe issued 14 prohibition notices and 103 improvement notices under the provisions of these regulations. (4) The Government has adopted a ‘phasing-in approach’ to achieve smoke-free enclosed public places in Western Australia. Currently up to two bars or lounge areas in hotels, taverns and other licensed venues may be exempt. This will be reduced to one exemption per venue by 31 December 2006. In addition, restrictions will be increased from 50 to 80 percent of floor space in nightclubs and cabarets by June 30, 2004 and will be completely smoke-free by December 31, 2006. The current exemptions for Burswood Casino are removed except for the international gaming room.
(3) Where Western Australian employers are in breach of their obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1966 , which deal with smoking in the workplace, WorkSafe will investigate and take appropriate action. Between March 1999 and May 2003, WorkSafe issued 14 prohibition notices and 103 improvement notices under the provisions of these regulations. (4) The Government has adopted a ‘phasing-in approach’ to achieve smoke-free enclosed public places in Western Australia. Currently up to two bars or lounge areas in hotels, taverns and other licensed venues may be exempt. This will be reduced to one exemption per venue by 31 December 2006. In addition, restrictions will be increased from 50 to 80 percent of floor space in nightclubs and cabarets by June 30, 2004 and will be completely smoke-free by December 31, 2006. The current exemptions for Burswood Casino are removed except for the international gaming room.
(4) The Government has adopted a ‘phasing-in approach’ to achieve smoke-free enclosed public places in Western Australia. Currently up to two bars or lounge areas in hotels, taverns and other licensed venues may be exempt. This will be reduced to one exemption per venue by 31 December 2006. In addition, restrictions will be increased from 50 to 80 percent of floor space in nightclubs and cabarets by June 30, 2004 and will be completely smoke-free by December 31, 2006. The current exemptions for Burswood Casino are removed except for the international gaming room.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.