Despite anticipated backlash from the local Greek Australian community, Monash City Council is hoping to ban smoking in outdoor areas such as cafes and sports grounds.
The Greeks will whinge initially, but once they realize that what’s been implemented is actually a good thing for their health, and a good thing for their bottom line of the traders and sporting groups, I have found that the Greeks will actually come on board and it no longer becomes an issue for them.
As a result of a council meeting on Tuesday night, the council will now push ahead with community consultation on banning smoking in outdoor areas.
Councillor Paul Klisaris, who initiated the proposal, said it was important that local government promote an anti-smoking message, although he anticipated resistance from Greek Australians in the area.
“Greeks have a lot of good qualities, but they also have one negative about them, and that is that they are the biggest whingers on the planet,” he said.
Monash is the first local council in Victoria to consider the ban, but it has been state law in sporting clubs and cafes in Queensland and New South Wales for years.
Cr Klisaris said, since those bans were introduced, data has shown an increase in patronage.
“Now what does that mean?” he said.
“It means that people who otherwise wouldn’t go to a cafe outside and enjoy the good weather because they didn’t want to inhale their neighbours’ smoke, all of a sudden were able to do that.”
Community consultation is now under way in the city of Monash, and a subcommittee has been formed to make a recommendation to council, which Cr Klisaris expects will be in early 2011.
“The Greeks will whinge initially, but once they realize that what’s been implemented is actually a good thing for their health, and a good thing for their bottom line of the traders and sporting groups, I have found that the Greeks will actually come on board and it no longer becomes an issue for them,” he said.
But local traders are not sold on the idea.
Owner of Niko’s Quality Cakes in Oakleigh, Tass Poupouzas, said she objected to Monash residents being the “guinea pigs,” and said the ban would damage her business.
“These days, it’s tough enough to bring business in, and they are just closing our doors, they’re making it harder and harder for shopkeepers in Monash to make a living,” she said.
And she doubted the ban would contribute to public health.
“People who want to stop smoking will do it for other reasons, they’ll stop because they can’t afford it,” she said.
Down the road at Vanilla, barista Georgio Lafazanis said having a cigarette with a coffee was part of the “Greek way of life.”
“I’m not a fan of smoking, I’m losing my grandparents to smoking, but I don’t have a right to tell someone they’re not allowed to smoke outside,” he said.
Chris Karavatsivis, who works in the area, said he thought the local Greek community would make their voice heard during the consultations.
“At the end of the day, democracy was founded in Greece, so we have a vested interest in it,” he said.
Monash City Mayor Charlotte Baines said the council was keen to hear a variety of views from residents, but said she supported the ban.
“For us it’s about responding to wider health implications, and one way councils can respond is by enacting changes,” she said.
Mayor Baines said council staff would “absolutely” be engaging with the community on this issue over the coming months.
In 2007, Monash City Council passed a ban on smoking in playgrounds, which Cr Klisaris said was “policing itself.”
He said the proposed ban was not designed as a revenue-raiser for the council.
“This is not an attack on smokers, it’s certainly not an attack on the Greek community in Oakleigh or the Eaton Mall, where they all get together on a Saturday particularly and have a latte and have a cigarette,” he said.
“But what we’re saying is look, it’s your right to smoke, but do it in a venue where it doesn’t impede on others.”