Parliament's public entrance goes smokefree, but total ban stubbed outSam Sachdeva Speaker David Carter has announced that the forecourt and lawn on Parliament grounds are now smokefree, although smoking is allowed in other, less public areas. The front of Parliament has gone smokefree - but Speaker David Carter has stubbed out the idea of a total ban on the grounds. The move comes after MPs called for a smoking ban inside Parliament's grounds as part of a push to make New Zealand smokefree by 2025. Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox had in May called for a smoking ban inside Parliament's grounds, saying MPs needed to lead by example. The ban comes after the Government's plain packaging tobacco laws took another step forward, passing the committee stage on Wednesday.

Source: Stuff August 25, 2016 00:45 UTC