I live in Victoria and we are one of the last states to be passing the same laws in Australia. The laws are coming in at the exact same time as England. It's a pity the Victorian government didn't follow the example of other states and implement this earlier (when I was hanging out at bars every weekend :P). Still happy it's finally here though!
As for the banning of other things, none of them have a direct impact on the people around them like the smoker has on passive smokers. If I eat 12 pies my friend next to me doesn't get obese as well. Alcohol has similar, less direct impacts, but it is due to abuse of the substance and is relative to the person drinking.
I have no problem with people choosing to smoke, as long as I don't have to be anywhere near it
