This week’s Queensland news in brief: Proposed smoking ban, a small earthquake, a first for land court

The Queensland government has proposed banning smoking from outdoor markets and school car parks, and preventing people from drinking while in smoking areas of pubs and clubs, as a way to further reduce the health impacts.

Tuesday is World No Tobacco Day, and the state’s health minister, Yvette D’Ath, has called for public submissions on a raft of legal changes being proposed in a tobacco law reform discussion paper.

Retailers would need a licence to sell vapes, or e-cigarettes, retail workers under the age of 18 would be banned from selling tobacco and cigarette machines would be moved behind the bar at pubs and clubs.

The proposals would also prohibit children from entering designated outdoor smoking areas (DOSAs) at licensed venues and prevent people from drinking in DOSAs.

One in 10 Queenslanders smoke every day and about 12 per cent of deaths in the state are caused by smoking-related illnesses, according to government figures.