Backyard barbecues could effectively be banned under draft Tasmanian smoke regulations, fired up Braddon Liberal candidate Brett Whiteley says.
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“This is the Hobart-based bureaucracy gone mad,” Mr Whiteley said.
“If the Environment Protection Agency’s draft rules came into effect, it would destroy one of Australia’s great traditions.
“These draft rules are un-Australian, and I’m going to fight them.”
He said the draft regulations would mean people could be fined nearly $1600 if a barbecue emitted smoke for more than 10 minutes and smoke was visible from 10 metres away for 30 seconds or more.
“The Environment Protection Agency has gone too far,” he said.
This is the nanny state at its worst and I’m not going to put up with it.
- Brett Whiteley
“This is the nanny state at its worst and I’m not going to put up with it.
“I’m all for looking after people in our community who suffer from asthma and other conditions that affect breathing, but surely we can use a bit more common sense than this.
“Like most people in Braddon, one of my favourite things to do is have a few friends around on a warm summer evening and fire up the barbecue.”
He said the EPA was independent of government, but he would raise his concerns with the state government.
The EPA will accept submissions until August 17.
The EPA said the main aim of the new regulations was to limit smoke produced by heaters, fireplaces, outdoor cooking appliances and backyard burning in and around urban areas.
“The regulations will place limitations on smoke emissions from wood-fired heating and cooking appliances, the circumstances under which backyard burning can take place and the types of material that may not be burnt,” it said.
“New woodheaters for sale will also be required to conform with the most recent Australian Standards for efficiency and emissions.”
The EPA defined outdoor heating or cooking appliance as any fire pit, fire pot, barbecue, outdoor pizza oven, outdoor heater or outdoor fireplace.
Waste material prohibited from burning would include painted wood, timber treated with chemicals, tyres, asbestos, coated wire, plastic and rubber.
The current regulations will expire in January.
The draft regulations are on the EPA website.