Health Money Should Be Spent on Patients, Not Lawyers

26 JUNE 2014

The Taxpayers’ Union is asking the Ministry of Health to justify why tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money has been wasted prosecuting a tobacconist for displaying a sign that indicated his store sold tobacco and a cartoon which ironically mocks public health campaigners.

“This isn’t about stopping flashy adverts, it’s taxpayer funded lawyers and lobbyists targeting a sole proprietor for selling a legal product. What’s next, are they going to take someone to court for having the word ‘tobacconist’ in the white pages?"

"If the moralists started suing mechanics for displaying dirty calendars, there would be ridicule. Here taxpayer funded officials have targeted a shopkeeper for displaying an un-PC cartoon and a ‘bad word’. “

“Surely there are more pressing needs in the health sector than throwing taxpayers’ money at lawyers to go on a witch hunt after someone for a displaying a dilapidated sign."

ENDS

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