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ASH
has written to all major party leaders seeking their endorsement of
key policies to reduce tobacco’s devastating toll of deaths, chronic
diseases and costs to the Australian economy. Says
Anne Jones, ASH Chief Executive: “The world’s biggest drug pushers
are using the election campaign to attack the government and reverse
an important health policy. “We
believe plain packaging will make smoking less appealing and reduce
tobacco sales. The tobacco industry also believes this will happen –
if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be spending $5m to lobby against it.
“We
welcome the ALP’s assurance that if re-elected, they will not
reverse the government’s commitment to mandating plain packs by July
2012. We call on the
Liberal Party to make the same commitment, clearly and unequivocally. “This
is an important public health policy, recommended by the National
Preventative Health Taskforce, supported by evidence. It will
especially protect children from tobacco promotion. “While
Australia would be first to implement plain packaging, other countries
are getting ready to follow. Tobacco
companies admit cigarette packets are their ‘silent salesman’.
This ‘salesman’ is pushing an addictive drug that kills over half
its long-term users when used as directed. “On
the tobacco industry’s argument, you’d never make any health
reform because you’d have to wait for the sort of evidence you
couldn’t get until after you’d made the change. “The
tobacco industry is costing this country over $31b a year, a figure
even their massive PR spin can’t gloss over. The nett benefit of
less smoking will be a huge saving to our health system and our whole
economy – not to mention the lives and health saved. Tobacco jobs
and revenue will simply be transferred by consumers spending their
money elsewhere. “Tobacco
companies seek to exert an unhealthy influence on health policies
through front groups like the Alliance of Australian Retailers, and by
making large donations to the Liberal and National parties. “We
call on Mr Abbott to clear the air and honour the plain packaging
commitment, and to repudiate the tobacco industry’s continuing
attack on Australian lives, health and economic wellbeing and its
continued interference in public health policy.” ASH factsheet on Plain
Packaging of Tobacco Products at www.ashaust.org.au/pdfs/TFacMPfed1007PlainPack.pdf Comment:
Media
info:
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Page last updated 4/8/10 |
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