A Melbourne City councillor is pushing for smoking bans across the entire central business district.

The move would make it illegal for pedestrians and outdoor diners to smoke.

Councillor Richard Foster wants the ban extended across the entire Hoddle grid, with the exception of designated smoking areas.

A permanent no-smoking zone is already in place in one city lane, The Causeway, with six more expected to be added to the list.

But Councillor Foster says no-smoking laws need to go further.

“What my proposition would be is that we change the equation that we’ve got now. Now we have a default where you can smoke except in certain areas.

“I’d like to see that reversed. So if we actually had the system whereby you don’t smoke except in designated areas, so you would have designated smoking zones,” he said.

Victoria’s Health Minister David Davis has cast doubt on the proposal.

Mr Davis says although the Government supports moves to cut smoking rates, such a ban would be unworkable.

“This particular proposal, without having seen the full details, does seem an extraordinary step and probably a step too far,” he said.