Stadiums Queensland venues are non-smoking venues
The Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998 requires all Stadiums Queensland venues to be smoke free. The affected venues are:
- The Brisbane Entertainment Centre
- Queensland Country Bank Stadium (Townsville)
- The Gabba
- The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (formally known as QEII)
- The Sleeman Sports Complex
- Suncorp Stadium
- Cbus Super Stadium
- The Queensland Tennis Centre
- People First Stadium
This means it is an offence to smoke (including use of an e-cigarette):-
- within a major sports facility (including small external buildings such as toilet blocks) except for the areas specified below; or
- within five metres of all building entrances situated on a property boundary at a major sports facility.
At a major sports facility it is not an offence to smoke in roads, carparks and picnic areas (parklands), but under the terms and conditions of entry applying at each major sports facility (details below), smoking is only permitted where specifically designated by Venue Management.
It is also an offence to smoke at public transport waiting points (bus stop, taxi rank, limousine rank, ferry terminal or transit terminal) and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point, whether such facilities are located on major sports facility land or on other land such as a public footpath.
Who is the lead Government Department on the new legislation?
Queensland Health is leading the Queensland Government’s initiative on smoking reforms. More information is available from Queensland Health.
Is there a fine? What is it?
For smoking offences under State legislation, a $322.60 on-the-spot fine for the smoker may be issued or fines of up to $3,226.60 may be issued by a Magistrates Court. Offenders may also be prohibited from entering a Stadiums Queensland venue.
Who will enforce the bans?
Queensland Health Environmental Officers are responsible for enforcing State legislation prohibiting smoking, including issuing on-the-spot fines.
Any patron who breaches the relevant terms and conditions of entry by smoking at a major sports facility other than in a designated area may be evicted by venue and security staff and a person who is smoking and seeking entry to a major sports facility may be prohibited from entry.
How will Stadiums Queensland venue patrons be informed of the legislative restrictions?
Queensland Health has developed an educational website (Queensland Health), designed to inform the public that it is an offence to smoke at various locations and areas in Queensland.
Stadiums Queensland venues display no smoking signage advising patrons that smoking is prohibited and that fines apply for smoking in areas where it is not permitted under State legislation.
In addition, under the terms and conditions of entry at each Stadiums Queensland venue, smoking (including use of an e-cigarette) may also be prohibited in a place where it is not an offence to smoke but is outside a designated smoking area. Stadiums Queensland venues will display signage indicating the location of designated smoking areas (if any) at a particular venue.
Patrons who smoke in a location at a major sports facility where it is an offence under State legislation to smoke or where Stadiums Queensland does not permit smoking will be asked to stop. Patrons may be evicted from the venue.
Specific Impacts at Each Venue
Smoking is prohibited within the buildings and five metres from the entry to the building (including balconies and the main entry stairwell). Smoking is also not permitted in the Courtyard or outdoor cafe area within the plaza.
Where can I smoke?
Smoking is permitted in the designated smoking area on Wetlands side, the car parks and parkland areas, except at public transport waiting points (the taxi rank, drop off/pick up/ride share area) and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
For patrons attending events in the Main Arena or the Sports Centre, there is a designated smoking area on the Wetlands side where smoking is permitted (no food or drink is permitted in this area). The designated smoking area is external to the perimeter fence line of the Courtyard and patrons will require a pass out to access this area. Patrons will then be required to be processed through the security checkpoint for re-entry.
Smoking is prohibited on stadium land unless where designated. There is no designated smoking area within the ticket entry gates to the stadium.
Where can I smoke?
On event days, patrons may be permitted to smoke in designated smoking areas as determined by the Venue Manager.
Smoking is permitted outside the ticket entry gates in the venue car park, at least five metres from the venue entry points, except at public transport waiting points (bus stop, taxi rank, limousine rank) and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
Pass outs may be issued to patrons wishing to leave the venue to smoke. This decision will be made on an event basis by the Venue Manager and hirer taking into account, and having regard for, patron safety and enjoyment. The availability of pass outs may change from event to event.
If pass outs are provided, the pass out and entry ticket must be produced to venue staff to re-enter.
Smoking is prohibited:
- anywhere within the stadium; and
- on public footpaths and parkland within five metres from each entry point.
Where can I smoke?
There are no designated smoking areas where smoking is permitted within the stadium. It is not an offence to smoke in public areas outside the stadium such as public footpaths, except within five metres of a stadium entry point or at public transport waiting points (bus stop, taxi rank, limousine rank, ferry terminal or transit terminal) and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
Pass outs may be issued to patrons wishing to leave the venue to smoke. This decision will be made on an event basis by the Venue Manager and hirer taking into account, and having regard for, patron safety and enjoyment. The availability of pass outs may change from event to event.
If pass outs are provided, the pass out and entry ticket must be produced to venue staff to re-enter the venue.
Smoking is prohibited in all areas within the main stadium, the State Athletics Centre, the Beach Volleyball Facility and all buildings and within five metres from each entry point.
Where can I smoke?
Smoking is permitted other than on event days in the car parks and parklands within the venue (beyond five metres from each entry point to an area where smoking is not permitted) except at public transport waiting points (bus stop, taxi rank, limousine rank) at the venue and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point.
On event days, patrons may be permitted to smoke in designated smoking areas as determined by the Venue Manager.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
On event days, pass outs may be issued to patrons wishing to leave the venue to smoke. This decision will be made on an event basis by the Venue Manager and hirer taking into account, and having regard for, patron safety and enjoyment. The availability of pass outs may change from event to event.
If pass outs are provided, the pass out and entry ticket must be produced to venue staff to re-enter the venue.
Smoking is prohibited within all buildings and five metres from the entry to each building or facility.
Where can I smoke?
Smoking is permitted in the car parks and parkland (beyond five metres from each entry point to an area where smoking is not permitted) except at public transport waiting points (bus stop, taxi rank, limousine rank) and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
For patrons attending ticketed events, pass outs may be issued to patrons wishing to leave the venue to smoke. This decision will be made on an event basis by the Venue Manager and hirer taking into account, and having regard for, patron safety and enjoyment. The availability of pass outs may change from event to event.
If pass outs are provided, the pass out and entry ticket must be produced to venue staff to re-enter the venue.
Smoking is prohibited:
- anywhere within the Stadium, including the bus station and the underground car parks;
- on the northern and southern plazas except where designated; and
- on public footpaths within five metres of a stadium entry point.
Where can I smoke?
Smoking is permitted in designated areas of the plaza areas at the Northern and Southern ends of the Stadium.
It is also not an offence to smoke in public areas outside the stadium such as public footpaths, but except within five metres of a stadium entry point or at designated transport waiting points (taxi rank or limousine rank) on public footpaths outside the stadium and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
Limited pass-outs for patrons wanting to leave the Stadium are available.
Smoking is prohibited:
- in all areas of the Stadium, except the designated smoking area in the Stadium car park; and
- on public footpaths within five metres of a Stadium entry point.
Where can I smoke?
Smoking is permitted in designated areas in the Stadium carpark.
It is also not an offence to smoke in public areas outside the stadium such as public footpaths, except within five metres of a stadium entry point or at public transport waiting points (bus stop, taxi rank, limousine rank or transit terminal) and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
Pass outs may be issued to patrons wishing to leave the venue to smoke. This decision will be made on an event basis by the Venue Manager and hirer taking into account, and having regard for, patron safety and enjoyment. The availability of pass outs may change from event to event.
If pass outs are provided, the pass out and entry ticket must be produced to venue staff to re-enter the venue.
Smoking is not permitted:
- in all areas of the Stadium except the designated areas;
- on public footpaths within five metres of the Stadium entry points.
Where can I smoke?
Smoking is permitted on stadium land in the designated areas outside the entry gates.
It is also not an offence to smoke in public areas outside the stadium such as public footpaths, except within five metres of a stadium entry point or at public transport waiting points (bus stop, taxi rank, limousine rank or transit terminal) and within a five metre buffer zone beyond the waiting point.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
For ticketed events, limited pass-outs for patrons wanting to leave the venue are available.
Smoking is not permitted in all areas of People First Stadium except in designated smoking only areas as signed.
Where can I smoke?
Smoking inside the Stadium’s fence line is permitted in Designated Smoking Only Areas. These areas are located in the plaza opposite Aisle 108 and opposite Stair/Ramp T and can be identified by signage. Food and drink cannot be taken into these areas. Locations of Designated Smoking Only areas may vary for non-football events.
It is not an offence under State legislation to smoke a minimum of five metres outside Gates 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Can I leave the venue to smoke?
For most events patrons are permitted to exit the stadium by collecting a Pass Out from staff at Gate 1, 2, 3 or 5. Customers exiting the stadium must have their event ticket to receive a pass out. It is not an offence under State legislation to smoke a minimum of five metres outside these gates. To re-enter the stadium, customers are required to present their pass out and event ticket to staff.