Kedgley, Dunne wrangle over bill banning smoke

By KEVIN TAYLOR political reporter

Green MP Sue Kedgley accused United Future MPs of being in the pocket of the tobacco industry during debate in Parliament yesterday on a law banning smoking in bars, clubs, restaurants and casinos.

She made the claim during voting on a move by United Future leader Peter Dunne to send the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Bill back to the select committee that originally considered it.

His attempt was defeated but Mr Dunne complained to Speaker Jonathan Hunt that during the vote Ms Kedgley twice interjected alleging United Future MPs were the "hand of the tobacco industry" and "in the pocket of the tobacco industry".

"That is grossly untrue and without any foundation whatsoever," he said.

Ms Kedgley tried to explain herself but was ordered to apologise by the Speaker and she eventually did so.

The exchange set the tone for subsequent debate on the bill's committee stages, which were unfinished when the House adjourned last night with none of at least eight amendments that MPs are seeking voted on.

Despite the slow progress, the bill has Labour and Green support and looks sure to become law after its final reading, probably in mid-October.

Its main provisions come into force 12 months later.

Act opposes the bill while National, NZ First and United Future are treating it as a conscience vote.

Mr Dunne has put up an amendment overturning the smoking ban and instead imposing a clean-air standard on bars to be complied with by February 2007.

Associate Health Minister Damien O'Connor told the House last night that the Government would not support the move.

Amendments are also being put up by Ms Kedgley removing the provision of instant fines of up to $400 for individual smokers and banning the sale to anyone under 18 of toys that imitate the act of smoking.

Mr Dunne spoke strongly against the bill, labelling Ms Kedgley's amendment to remove fines for smokers "absurd" because it still left bar owners facing fines of up to $4000.

He predicted the law would be ignored and bar workers would not get the protection it sought to provide.

"It's lunatic and unworkable and will be ignored as an unenforceable ass."

He said the Health Ministry would not have the resources to police the law, and the police force rightly had more pressing responsibilities.

Ms Kedgley said most people were thrilled about the passage of the bill, particularly those fed up with coming home after a night on the town with their clothes and hair reeking of smoke.

The hotel industry fears a 30 per cent drop in business if smoking in bars is banned under the legislation.

Hospitality Association members estimate such a drop would cost the industry $78 million a year.

Association chief executive Bruce Robertson has called the bill "political correctness gone mad", but the Service and Food Workers Union urged MPs to "stick to their guns".

Union national secretary Darien Fenton said the bill was the "last brick in the wall" that would protect workers from unhealthy workplaces. She estimated at least 100,000 people worked in the hospitality industry.

The smoke-free bill

* Bans smoking in all bars, clubs, restaurants and casinos, all workplaces, public transport and lifts, and all schools and early childhood centres both inside and outside.

* Imposes fines on bar owners of up to $4000 for breaches of the law.

* People can still smoke on the decks and beer gardens of licensed premises, if they have them.

* Smokers will still be able to smoke at home, in their cars and outdoors.