In 2015, the proposal failed to gain enough support from Wagga’s councillors of the day and it was quickly forgotten about. 

But it is time to restart that conversation.

Of course it is not as destructive as ice or alcohol, but nicotine addiction remains a big problem in our community. 

The Murrumbidgee Health District has one of the highest rates of smoking in the state, with one-in-five adults lighting up regularly.

We all know that smoking causes cancer, but it also causes myriad of other health issues, as well as costing an absolute fortune.

Federal government initiatives over the past decade or so, including higher taxes, plain packaging and graphic health warnings, have helped bring national smoking rates down from 28.2 per cent in 2001 to 16.3 per cent in 2014-15.

Many local and state governments have done their bit not just through education campaigns, but by expanding no-smoking zones to many public areas.

Make no mistake, all these measures are unequivocally designed to make smoking as expensive, inconvenient and least desirable as possible.

And you know what? It works. I know smokers who have quit not because of any potential health impacts decades down the track, but because it was no longer enjoyable.

They didn’t enjoy after a long flight having to walk with their luggage 800 metres to a dedicated smoking zone at the airport.

They didn’t enjoy having to scurry in the rain and stand under a tree during their lunch break.

And they certainly didn’t enjoy the looks of disdain from people if they did break the rules and lit up in a no-smoking zone.

In 2015, concern over how to enforce the ban was one of the major sticking points, and it seems it remains so.

But this misses the point. 

Making Baylis Street a smoke-free zone won’t immediately stop all people from smoking there, but over time, just like with the alcohol-free zones across the city, people will start to get the message.

All the best, Ross.