NT finally bans smoking in cars with kids

The Northern Territory has finally joined the rest of Australia in banning smoking in cars that carry children.

Amendments are being drafted to the Tobacco Control Act, Health Minister Robyn Lambley said.

"It's well overdue - all other jurisdictions in Australia have such legislation in place, so the NT is finally falling into line with the rest of the country," she told reporters in Darwin on Wednesday.

She told parliament that smoking is the NT's biggest killer, with 167 preventable deaths occurring each year.

Smoking in cars with kids aged under 16 is no longer acceptable in a modern and healthy community, she said, and can cause considerable health problems in children such as bronchitis, asthma, and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Smoking wasn't banned in NT bars until 2010, and non-licensed public outdoor eating and drinking wasn't made smoke-free until 2011.

Ms Lambley said the fine would be around $200 and the ban would be enforced by police.

"We don't want this to just be a punitive measure," she said.

"It's about changing people's behaviour, stopping smoking in cars, and reducing tobacco consumption because we all know smoking kills."