`Smokers say butt out'

“If someone came up to me and told me I couldn’t smoke here I’d tell them to get stuffed,” Vince Gaeta said outside the Orange Central shopping centre yesterday.

If the proposed smoking policy is implemented, Mr Gaeta would be fined $110 if he smoked within 70 metres of the centre’s entrances and exits.

“Nobody is going to care, they’ll just keep smoking,” Mr Gaeta said.

“You can’t stop us from doing it in public because it’s not against the law.”

Garry Ozols, who gave up smoking 18 years ago after taking up the habit at just 12 years of age, said responsibility for smoking-related issues rested with state rather than local government.

“This is a complete waste of ratepayers’ money,” he said. “How will it be enforced and who will end up paying for the legal battles this will bring?

“This is a step backward for Orange on a tourism level.

“How many tourists will just keep driving through when they find out they can’t have a cigarette while they sample a coffee at one of the sidewalk cafes in the main street?

“I don’t think local councils should really be looking at stepping on state government issues.”

Gloria Jeans owner Richard Madigan said he wanted Orange City Council to focus on solving antisocial behaviour in Summer Street and Post Office Lane rather than stopping smoking in the area.

“How will this be policed? That’s the problem,” Mr Madigan said.

bevan.shields@ruralpress.com

I congratulate council on such a courageous move. Some say it would be hard to police but it would be easy, you’ve just got to issue the infringement notices. A ranger doing that would pay for himself.

Member for Orange Russell Turner

I think it is just nonsense and makes a mockery of a very serious issue. Let’s remember smoking is not illegal. I don’t think we should be in the business of telling people where they can and can’t do something that is within the law.

Mayor John Davis