The ban will come into effect as soon as possible in public recreation areas, transport stops and entrances to public buildings.

In 2015 it will expand to include commercial outdoor dining areas.

In one fell swoop NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner sent an anti-smoking message and rendered a Dubbo City Council resolution irrelevant.

The council’s finance and policy committee had, on Monday night, recommended public consultation to gauge support for a proposed ban on smoking in outdoor areas.

It was in response to a letter from the Cancer Council NSW, which sought support for statewide legislation for smoke-free outdoor areas.

In the end the Cancer Council NSW did not need Dubbo’s help to sway the government.

Mrs Skinner cited figures showing smoking-related illness accounted for about 5200 deaths and 44,000 admissions to hospital per year in NSW and cost the NSW economy about $8 billion annually.

“The distress and cost that smoking inflicts on families, and the burden this imposes on NSW’s health system, is simply not acceptable,” Mrs Skinner said.

“This is a cornerstone of the NSW government’s strengthened commitment to preventative health, to keep people healthy and out of hospital.”

The government would target parks, playgrounds, sporting fields and outdoor dining areas because they were places where children and families congregated more frequently, Mrs Skinner said.

Dubbo restaurateurs have a three-year breathing space because the government wished to honour a memorandum of understanding signed with Clubs NSW.

Dubbo MP Troy Grant said the government had listened and acted on the concerns expressed by the community with “new and progressive” tobacco reforms.

The government aims to introduce the measures through a bill in Parliament in the coming months.

It would lead an education campaign to inform the community, businesses and affected agencies about the changes, Mrs Skinner said. Some of the changes are already a reality in Dubbo.

In 2005 the council resolved that all buildings it owned, including Dubbo Aquatic Leisure Centre, equipment and vehicles would be designated smoke-free zones.

Dubbo councillors on Monday may have pre-empted any backlash to the government’s decision when debating the staff recommendation for consultation.

Cr Peter Bartley did not doubt the detrimental health effects of smoking, but warned governments should not be “dictatorial”.

“Just a note of caution not to go whacking people around the head if people are adults and make their own decisions,” he said.

Cr Richard Mutton had not wanted Dubbo to add its voice to the Cancer Council NSW’s demands without first hearing from the public.

“The dining areas in the main street - will (a ban) have an adverse effect on outdoor dining?” Cr Mutton asked.

Clear the Air: Why Wouldn’t You?

The Cancer Council NSW’s campaign, “Clear the Air: Why Wouldn’t You?” had garnered the support of a number of health and government peak bodies when it sought Dubbo City Council’s help.

Cancer Council NSW chief Andrew Penman yesterday applauded the tobacco reforms and was pragmatic about the three-year delay for an outdoor dining smoking ban.

“I think the important thing is to move forwards,” Dr Penman said.

“What we do have is a firm cut-off in 2015.”