Opposition MPs and unions predicted dire consequences when the ban on smoking in prisons was instituted.
What’s actually happened? Corrections Minister Judith Collins reported there’s been almost no fires since the smokes were banned:
The ban has been in place since 1 July. It followed 12 months of careful planning and preparation by Corrections staff, supported by the Ministry of Health and Quitline.
“I would like to congratulate the Corrections Department for the successful implementation of this policy,” Ms Collins said.
“There has been a noticeable improvement in air quality within our prisons since the ban came into effect.
“Since 1 July there has also been a significant reduction in the number of fire and arson-related incidents. There were only four such incidents in July and one so far in August compared to 18 incidents in the month prior to the ban.
“The result is that our prisons are much safer and healthier places for Corrections staff.”
Labour copped a lot of flack for banning smoking in bars because of the way they did it. Instead of promoting it as an OSH issue for staff – with which it would have been very difficult to argue – they took the nanny-state we-know-what’s-good-for-you approach.
By contrast, the smoking ban in prisons was instituted as a workplace health and safety measure, a by-product of that will be better health for prisoners.
Yeah yeah yeah
What a load of bollocks – this is nothing more than the powerful imposing their will on the powerless.
Smoking is a behaviour disapproved of in the fancy drawing rooms of the elite so this plays well in those circles but it is repulsive bossy nanny stateism at it finest on display here,
Judith Collins reminds me of a very nasty little girl who was in my class at primary school who made it her mission in life to tell on her classmates and get them strapped.
And smoking in bars was never an OSH issue – the second hand smoke thing is based on junk science – but when did the fact that science is junk ever stop big government types, including our present National government, seizing on it to increase their power to interfere in peoples lives.
The smoking ban in bars was promoted as a workplace health issue, in fact that was the primary justification for it. I was a journo back then and wrote several vituperative columns opposing the ban. I can tell you that virtually all the promotion of the ban and opposition to my writing was based on an OSH level, so I think you’re being somewhat disingenuous simply parroting the rather tired Labour=Nanny line.
I am moved to disagree Andrei unless the major outcome intended was to keep me out of bars.
I had ceased going to social occasions where enclosed smoking was permitted, due to my breathing difficulties.
As an ex smoker paying for my stupidity that is my lot and no complaints. However smoke had driven me out of many venues even those that had extraction fans.
In my immediate circle, that includes smokers, no one smokes in their homes any more.
My good mate at the Tree Fellers Arms is also very grateful for the ending of the damage to interior walls, floor coverings, furniture and window coverings in the absence of cigarette smoke and smoking..
Your second point re Judith Collins, whatever motivated her, she was forced to enact the workplace ban in prisons due to OSH rulings and potential liability going forward.
I regard JC as one of the bigger positives in the current Government, particularly her support for and rebuilding of, the police.
But GD surely your good mate at the Tree Fellers Arms was perfectly free before the “Smokefree Environment Act” took force to establish his place of business as a Smokefree Environment.
And you as a free citizen could reward his initiative with your custom.
Moreover if good citizens rewarded other good citizens such as your good mate at the Tree Fellers Arms with increased patronage and thus profitability then other establishments would adopt such practices and it would all happen without the heavy hand of big Government.
Which is all good and the way things should work. i.e. the citizenry deciding how they want things to work for themselves and not by having the mores of the snooty elite imposed upon them.