Australia has long been at the forefront of tobacco control, introducing progressive legislation over several decades to reduce smoking rates and protect public health. From a time when smoking indoors was common, even in hospitals and airplanes, to today’s strict public smoking bans, Australia’s smoking laws have undergone significant transformation. Here is a timeline highlighting key changes, especially regarding indoor smoking and proximity to building entrances.
Pre-1980s: Smoking Everywhere
In the mid-20th century, smoking was a widely accepted social norm in Australia. People smoked in offices, restaurants, cinemas, hospitals, buses, and even airplanes. There were no laws prohibiting smoking indoors, and tobacco advertising was prevalent across all media.
1980s: Growing Awareness, First Restrictions
1986
The tide began to shift with the first public bans on smoking in planes, introduced by domestic airlines like Qantas and Ansett. Around the same time, smoking was banned in buses and trains in most states.
1980
Some state governments and local councils began to restrict smoking in public buildings, including hospitals, government offices, and schools. However, these were sporadic and not nationwide.
1990s: Smoking Sections and Designated Areas
Early to Mid-1990s
Many restaurants and cafés began introducing smoking and non-smoking sections in response to public demand and health advocacy.
1994–1995
Various state governments, including New South Wales and Victoria, implemented laws requiring smoke-free zones in restaurants, often mandating a percentage of seating to be non-smoking.
1997–1999
Restrictions expanded to include shopping centres, cinemas, and workplaces, though enforcement and definitions varied between states.
2000s: Bans Expand to Bars, Nightclubs, and Casinos
2000
The state of South Australia became the first to ban smoking in enclosed workplaces, including hospitality venues, but with exceptions for designated areas.
2004
Tasmania led the way by banning smoking in all indoor public spaces, including bars, clubs, and gaming venues.
2006–2007: Other states followed:
New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia introduced complete indoor smoking bans, covering restaurants, pubs, nightclubs, and casinos.
By mid-2007, all Australian states and territories had banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, effectively ending indoor smoking in hospitality venues nationwide.
2010s: Focus on Outdoor Areas and Entrances
2010–2015
Legislation began targeting outdoor dining areas, public transport stops, sports stadiums, and playgrounds.
For example, NSW banned smoking in outdoor dining areas in 2015.
Smoking near building entrances became a public concern due to passive smoke exposure:
Queensland (2010) and Victoria (2014) introduced laws banning smoking within 4 metres of building entrances, particularly those of public buildings, hospitals, schools, and childcare centres.
These restrictions were often referred to as the “smoke-free buffer zones.”
Enforcement varied, but many councils implemented signage and fines to support compliance.
2020s: Strengthening Tobacco Control
Ongoing initiatives focus on expanding smoke-free areas in apartment buildings, public housing, beaches, and festivals.
Many universities and hospitals are now completely smoke-free campuses.
As of 2025, vaping laws are also being integrated into tobacco control legislation, with similar restrictions on indoor and outdoor use.
Conclusion
Australia’s journey from smoke-filled rooms to largely smoke-free public spaces reflects decades of public health advocacy and legislative reform. From the introduction of smoking sections in the 1990s to the comprehensive indoor bans of the 2000s and the modern push for smoke-free environments around entrances and outdoor spaces, the country remains committed to reducing the harms of tobacco. As smoking becomes increasingly restricted in both indoor and outdoor settings, Australia continues to serve as a global example in tobacco control.
