The State Government hopes the new laws, announced today, will help cut smoking rates in Victoria by 20 per cent by 2013. But the ban on smoking in cars with children under the age of 18 will not come into effect until January 2010, while the ban on point-of-sale displays of Cigarettes will be mandatory from January 2011. Health Minister Daniel Andrews said other measures in the Victorian Tobacco Control Strategy 2008 - 2013 includes $22 million in funding for anti-smoking ads, making public school grounds smoke-free by July 1, 2009 and a boost to services to high-risk groups quit smoking. "This plan sets out challenging targets to significantly Reduce smoking in vulnerable and high risk groups such as pregnant women and Indigenous Victorians, helping smokers to quit and stay quit," he said. "Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of illness and death in Victoria, claiming around 4000 lives, causing 80 per cent of lung cancer cases and costing Victoria around $5 billion every year." Health groups welcomed the new five-year plan and said the measures would save thousands of lives. Cancer Council Victoria director David Hill said the funding for anti-smoking ads was vital in the fight against tobacco. "There is no doubt that More needs to be done to stop the tobacco industry from recruiting new smokers and making it hard for current smokers to quit and we are pleased the Victorian Government have shown a willingness to take this challenge head-on," he said.