Australia’s first ever smoke-free city -

One of Australia's busiest city centres will be asking smokers to butt out for good. The Council of North Sydney voted unanimously to ban smoking on the streets throughout the city in what may be the nation's first. 

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North Sydney - North Sydney mayor Jilly Gibson presented the idea at a council meeting earlier this week, to make the first smoke-free CBD in the country.

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Litter - "Cigarettes are not only bad for smokers; their cigarette butts litter our streets and the second-hand smoke is detrimental to everyone’s health," said Mayor Gibson.

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Environment - She continued, "It is important that we create a safe environment for our community where everyone can enjoy our outdoor open spaces."

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Passed - As the vote passed unanimously, it will now go to the community to consult and discuss how to move forward.

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Banned - With bans already in place in some public places, including Elizabeth Plaza and Brett Whiteley Place, Gibson believes North Sydneysiders will support the ban.

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Almaty, Kazakhstan - This city has been smoke-free since 2004, and remains the longest-standing city to have banned smoking.

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World Health Organisation (WHO) - According to WHO, since the implementation of the ban smoking among medical personnel dropped from 35% to 15%, and teenagers from 19% to 15% in 2008.

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Key - A key point that played a major part in maintaining the ban was political support as well as NGOs and media playing a positive part in the ban.

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Chandigarh, India - The Chandigarh Administration declared its smoke-free city status in 2007, becoming the first city in India to initiate and fully implement the laws.

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Gather - The policy is followed to a tee, prohibiting smoking indoor and outdoor spaces like parks, markets and other public places where people gather.

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Strict - Although there are some designated smoking areas, they are heavily regulated and strict conditions are enforced.

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Chennai, India - In 2008, the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules was implemented, and the national law was put into practice.

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Similar - Like Chandigarh, the city banned smoking in public places, both indoor and outdoor.

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Designated - As well as enforced strict conditions to the tightly regulated designated smoking areas.

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Davao, Philippines - In 2002, the City Council passed its own Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance ahead of the 2003 National Tobacco Control Law.

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Overall - In all public places and enclosed spaces smoking is prohibited but the law is less protective than the City Council's ordinance.

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Premises - This is because owners can determine the size and specifications of designated smoking and non-smoking areas throughout their premises, including bars and restaurants.

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Liverpool, United Kingdom - In 2007, the national smoke-free legislation came into effect and Liverpool was highly instrumental in that process.

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Smoke-free - All enclosed public places and workplaces including public transport, company vehicles, restaurants and bars are to be completely smoke-free according to the law.

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Indoors - Explicit exemptions from smoking indoors are permitted, including designated bedrooms in hotels, and bedrooms or rooms used only for smoking within care homes, hospices, offshore installations and prisons.

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Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia - The Late King Fahd announced on World No Tobacco Day 2001 that Mecca and Medina would become smoke-free cities.

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Law - In 2004, Saudi Arabia signed the FCTC, fully implementing a law that banned smoking.

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Religious - As well as the law, there was also a religiously inspired policy that strengthened the smoke-free city.

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Mexico City, Mexico - La Ley de Protección a la Salud de los No Fumadores (the Law for the Protection of the Health of Non-Smokers) was passed in 2008.

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Public - All indoor workplaces and public places in the city are smoke-free according to law.

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Nakuru, Kenya - The first city in Kenya and the wider East African Region to be smoke-free, the Nakuru Municipality Council by-law to bring about smoke-free public places was implemented in 2007.

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Streets - Smoke-free areas include public and work places and extended to prohibiting smoking on streets.

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Recife, Brazil - In 1996, Brazil was early in providing smoke-free areas by Federal Law, however, there was little regulation and compliance.

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Allowed - Recife was the exception. Smoking is forbidden in all enclosed public places except in designated smoking areas that have ventilation, and is allowed in open areas and public ways. 

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