Plain tobacco packaging: Difference between revisions
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
===Legislation=== |
===Legislation=== |
||
In April 2011, |
In April 2011, Minister Roxon released an exposure draft of plain packaging legislation.<ref>{{cite news |title=Exposure Draft, PLain Packaging Bill |first=Nicola |last=Roxon |url=http://yourhealth.gov.au/internet/yourhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/C550AA264BA53F7ACA25786B0001B34A/$File/Tobacco%20Plain%20Packaging%20Bill%202011%20-%20Exposure%20Draft%20-%2031%20March%202011.pdf |publisher=[[Labor Party (Australia)]] |date={{nowrap|April 2011}}}}</ref> Australian newspapers reported that the legislation was likely to pass despite concerns from the [[Coalition (Australia)|Opposition]]. It was suggested the Opposition resistance to the legislation was due to their continuing acceptance of funding donations from tobacco companies.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cigarettes Likely to get plain packages |first=Andrea |last=Hayward |url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/cigarettes-likely-to-get-plain-packages-20110524-1f193.html |publisher=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date={{nowrap|24 May 2011}}}}</ref> |
||
On 31 May 2011 [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] leader [[Tony Abbott]] announced that his party would support the legislation, and would work with the government to ensure the legislation is effective.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abbott out of puff on plain packet laws |first=Ben |last=Packham |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-out-of-puff-on-plain-cigarette-packet-laws/story-fn59niix-1226066784420 |publisher=[[The Australian]] |date={{nowrap|01 June 2011}}}}</ref> |
On 31 May 2011 [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] leader [[Tony Abbott]] announced that his party would support the legislation, and would work with the government to ensure the legislation is effective.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abbott out of puff on plain packet laws |first=Ben |last=Packham |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-out-of-puff-on-plain-cigarette-packet-laws/story-fn59niix-1226066784420 |publisher=[[The Australian]] |date={{nowrap|01 June 2011}}}}</ref> |
||
Revision as of 04:42, 7 July 2011
Plain cigarette packaging is a proposed legislation which requires cigarettes to be sold in plain packages throughout Australia. Branding and advertising will be replaced by logo-free dull olive brown packaging with health warnings. The brand name and variety of the cigarette will be printed on the front of the packaging in a plain white typeface.
Plain packaging
The legislation will force cigarette companies to sell their cigarettes in a logo-free dull olive brown packaging instead of their own packaging. Government research has found the olive brown is the least attractive colour, particularly for young people.[1] With the plain packaging and tax increases[2] the Australian government is aiming to bring down smoking rates below 10 per cent by 2018 from the 16.6 per cent in 2007.[3]
On 24 May 2011 Cancer Council Australia released a review of the evidence supporting the introduction of plain packaging to reduce youth uptake.[4] The review had been conducted by Quit Victoria and Cancer Council Victoria. The review includes 24 peer-reviewed studies conducted over two decades, suggesting that packaging plays an important role in encouraging young people to try cigarettes.[5]
Tobacco industry response
In August 2010, Phillip Morris International, British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco formed the Alliance of Australian Retailers, which commenced a multimillion dollar campaign against plain cigarette packaging. The ongoing campaign focuses on small business owners, giving the AAR the appearance of a grassroots body.[6] When the funding source of the campaign was made public, large retailers such as Coles and Woolworths quickly withdrew support for the campaign.[7][8] The tobacco companies subsequently hired a Public Relations firm to oversee the campaign.[9]
In May 2011, British American Tobacco launched a media campaign suggesting that illicit trade and crime syndicates would benefit from plain packaging.[10] BATA CEO David Crow threatened to lower cigarette prices in order to compete, which he claimed could result in higher smoking amongst young people.[11] Mr Crow later admitted he would tell his own children not to smoke cigarettes, as they are unhealthy.[12]
The BATA campaign is largely based on a report from Deloitte. Several of the claims contained in the report have been publicly refuted, and the report itself admitted that it had relied extensively on unaudited figures supplied by the tobacco industry itself.[13][14] Public Health officials have questioned why Deloitte would risk its own reputation by "putting it's name to nonsense like this."[15]
In June 2011, Imperial Tobacco Australia launched a secondary media campaign, deriding plain packaging legislation as part of a Nanny state[16]
In June 2011 Phillip Morris International also announced it was using investor state dispute settlement provisions in the Australia-Hong Kong Biliateral Investment treaty (BIT) to demand compensation for Australia's plain packaging anti-smoking legislation, despite the fact the legislation is non-discriminatory and addresses a significant public health problem.[17] In response, Health Minister Nicola Roxon stated that she believed the government was "on very strong ground" legally, and that the government was willing to defend the measures.[18]
Legislation
In April 2011, Minister Roxon released an exposure draft of plain packaging legislation.[19] Australian newspapers reported that the legislation was likely to pass despite concerns from the Opposition. It was suggested the Opposition resistance to the legislation was due to their continuing acceptance of funding donations from tobacco companies.[20]
On 31 May 2011 Liberal leader Tony Abbott announced that his party would support the legislation, and would work with the government to ensure the legislation is effective.[21]
References
- ^ Thompson, Jeremy (7 April 2011). "Cigarette rethink: Logos out, death and disease in". ABC News.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Rodgers, Emma (29 April 2010). "Cigarette tax to increase 25pc from midnight". ABC News.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Government to demand no frills cigarette packets". ABC News. 29 April 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ [1] Cancer Council Australia Website
- ^ [2] Cancer Council Australia Position Statement, May 2011
- ^ Macey, Jennifer (4 August 2010). "Big tobacco bankrolls anti-Labor ad campaign". ABC News.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Retail group quits cigarette label campaign". ABC News. 11 August 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Leaks reveal $9m tobacco blitz". Lateline. 10 September 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Davies, Anne (11 September 2010). "Big Tobacco hired public relations firm to lobby government". The Sydney Morning Herald.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ [3], Plain Packs Website
- ^ "Tobacco Companies Declare War". ABC News.
- ^ Johnson, Stephen. "British American Tobacco Australia boss David Crow tells his kids not to smoke". news.com.au.
- ^ [4], Professor Simon Chapman
- ^ Irvine, Jessica (20 May 2011). "It's plain to see what's behind the smokescreen". The Age.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Chapman, Simon (6 July 2011). "Why is Deloitte's name on junk tobacco reports?". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Big Tobacco takes on the nanny state". Yahoo Australia.
- ^ Klya Tienhaara and Thomas Faunce Gillard Must Repel Big Tobacco's Latest Attack. Canberra Times 28 June 2011 http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/opinion/editorial/general/gillard-must-repel-big-tobaccos-latest-attack/2209168.aspx
- ^ KABC News 6 July 2011 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/06/3262578.htm?section=justin
- ^ Roxon, Nicola (April 2011). "Exposure Draft, PLain Packaging Bill" (PDF). Labor Party (Australia).
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Hayward, Andrea (24 May 2011). "Cigarettes Likely to get plain packages". Sydney Morning Herald.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Packham, Ben (01 June 2011). "Abbott out of puff on plain packet laws". The Australian.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)