Amateurs may ban smoking
CAIRNS Amateurs committee is considering banning smoking from trackside at this year's racing carnival.
Under-18s are also facing a potential lock-out from the Cannon Park racecourse.
Amateurs president Alan McPherson yesterday said the committee was planning to make a decision about the teen and smoking bans next week.
"Based on everything that’s happened and all the government regulations, we are considering it at the moment," Mr McPherson said.
"As soon as we’ve made a decision, we’ll put out all the right information."
He said the committee was consulting Liquor Licensing on the issues.
The annual racing event came under intense public scrutiny last year when the Cairns Jockey Club, which holds the Cannon Park licence, declared a ban on 13 to 18-year-olds because of fear of hefty fines.
The ban was later overturned when the Amateurs committee reached a compromise with Liquor Licensing and the jockey club allowing it to have control of the licence for the two days.
Mr McPherson said other changes to this year’s racing carnival were also being
considered.
"We’ve got a lot of issues we’re looking at to improve Amateurs," Mr McPherson said.
He said there could be modifications to the layout of the event, extra facilities and changes to Picnic in the Park.
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No smoking: Cairns Amateurs committee is considering banning smoking trackside at the popular event.
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