Perth Voice Interactive

IT’LL be a fine time for smokers in Vincent’s town centres, with penalties for smoking coming into effect on July 1 following the introductory “education and awareness” transition period. 

The fine for lighting up in a smoke-free area is $100, and “failure to extinguish tobacco product or e-cigarette upon direction of an authorised person” is priced at $200.

But the council seems pretty reluctant to hand out fines to any but the especially recalcitrant. 

Their enforcement policy says they’ll take into account “the number of times an offence has been observed, graduating to enforcement if a person is unresponsive to education, the safety and vulnerability of the person, and the public interest to pursue enforcement”.

Oz Day debate

PUBLIC comment is sought on whether Bayswater council should move its January citizenship ceremonies from January 26. 

Councillors decided to put it to a public vote at their May meeting, after being encouraged by members of their Reconciliation Advisory Committee to consider an alternative date to Australia Day. 

It follows councils like Fremantle, Vincent and Cambridge moving their ceremonies off January 26 due to the date being a sad reminder of colonial violence for many Aboriginal people (“Oz day up for debate,” Voice, May 20, 2023).

Comments are open until July 10 at engage.bayswater.wa.gov.au or at any of Bayswater council’s libraries, then councillors are due to vote on the feedback in August. 

The survey specifies they are “not” seeking feedback on the actual date of Australia Day itself.