Given the health effects on children of exposure to passive smoking as described in the preceding sections, it is of concern that many children are exposed to passive smoking in the home environment. A survey in Western Australia in 1993 found that 32% of children aged 4 to 16 years lived in households where they may have been exposed to passive smoking. Thus, more than one million Australian children of school age live in households where they may be exposed to passive smoking.(32)
Estimates from the 1989/90 Australian Health Survey (33) show that over 570,000 children aged four and under live in households with one or more smokers. This is half of all children in this age group.
The National Health and Medical Research Council draft report suggested that smoking should be illegal in cars with children as passengers.(33a) A survey in South Australia found that nearly two thirds of smokers with children under 15 allowed smoking in their car. However smokers with children were less likely to allow smoking in cars compared with those who had no children.(33b)
A survey found support for legislation to ban smoking in cars. The research, conducted in New South Wales found that 72% of adults overall and 63% of adults who smoked, thought that smoking in cars when children were present should be illegal.(33c)