Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Plain Packs passes second reading

Dear Editor,

RE: Plain Packs passes second reading, but passes too slowly for our liking

On behalf of all members of the Smokefree Coalition I congratulate Parliament on voting in favour of the Smoke-free Environments (Tobacco Standardised Packaging) Amendment Bill at its second reading last week. When tobacco causes 4500 New Zealanders to die every year, passing a measure that prevents young children from wanting to take up smoking is good social investment and great leadership from our decision makers.

But this is a measure that is taking too long to pass through its democratic process and it is not because of the public's opposition. Public support is behind the government in progressing the Smokefree Environments (Tobacco Standardised Packaging) Amendment Bill without any further delay.

Only the tobacco industry is against this measure, but its strength of opposition is so great, with threats of litigation, false information given to New Zealand media and conflicted research shown to members of parliament, we fear the lobbyists of Big Tobacco have succeeded in interfering in and even slowing down our government's decision-making. If true, this would be a breach of Article 5.3 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to let the tobacco industry interfere with government decision-making.

Article 11 of the FCTC matter-of-factly insists nations ban all forms of tobacco marketing on product packaging. This World Health Organisation convention provides the support of the world's best practice guidelines and peer-reviewed evidence. Let's not waste any more time allowing tobacco to cause further preventable, deadly disease: eliminate the industry's means of tempting our children with its deadly products and protect future generations so that they can enjoy smokefree lives.

Sincerely,

Dr Prudence Stone, Executive Director
Smokefree Coalition

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.