Cigarette plain packaging moves closer
Australian Broadcasting Corporation Broadcast: 06/04/2011 Reporter: Steve Cannane
Australia is set to be the first country in the world to ban logos and brand names from cigarette packaging.
Transcript
TONY JONES, PRESENTER: The Gillard Government is about to take the next step in its bid to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.In a moment we'll hear from the Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, who will tomorrow release the draft legislation. If the bill passes, Australia will become the first country in the world to ban logos and brand names from cigarette packaging.Steve Cannane reports.STEVE CANNANE, REPORTER: Cigarettes in Australia might soon look like this: no logos, no branding and even bigger health warnings.If the legislation becomes law, plain packaging will be phased in from January next year.SIMON CHAPMAN, UNI. OF SYDNEY: Look, I think it's impossible to underestimate the global importance of this announcement. I can't think of any other consumer good anywhere in the world where governments have said this is entirely how you must package this product for consumers, and I think that's really appropriate because the number of people who are killed by tobacco every year globally and in Australia is astronomical. The tobacco industry will fight this, but I don't expect and other people don't expect them to win.STEVE CANNANE: The tobacco industry has already spent millions fighting plain packaging.As Lateline revealed last year, the tobacco industry gave $5 million to the Alliance of Australian Retailers to fund this advertising campaign.Their latest campaign targets smokers, urging them to oppose increased taxes and plain packaging. And lobbying politicians is also part of their strategy, as these emails from the tobacco industry's former PR advisers show. "Effective political campaigns only work when the targeted decision makers believe that the campaign will be ongoing and intensive. In short, that the campaign will keep going and keep damaging their political standing unless they change their position."But Simon Chapman believes this kind of campaigning will have little impact on the legislation.SIMON CHAPMAN: I'd be very surprised if we didn't get a majority of the cross bench and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the members of the Liberal Party crossed the floor on this.STEVE CANNANE: Lateline asked representatives from Philip Morris for an interview. They offered no comment.British American Tobacco Australia said they won't be commenting until they see the draft legislation.Steve Cannane, Lateline.
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Australian Health Minister  has announced plans to introduce legislation requiring cigarette packaging to be plain, and unbranded. The  may oppose this move, and will examine the detail of the legislation before deciding.
 
"We do support sensible measures that are proven to lead to reduced levels of smoking but we want to wait and see the full legislation, and what evidence they are relying on that plain packaging does reduce smoking rates," stated a spokesman for opposition leader Tony Abbott.

Intended to decrease the number of Australians smoking, the new packaging is to be olive in colour with no logos or branding, and larger  health warnings similar to those currently embossed on packaging.

"The new packs have been designed to have the lowest appeal to smokers and to make clear the terrible effects that smoking can have on your health," said Roxon in an official statement.

Cigarette conglomerate  insists the proposed legislation to require plain package cigarettes is an infringement of international trademark and intellectual property laws that could cost Australian taxpayers millions in legal fees alone.

If the legislation passes the new law would begin to be phased in from January next year. With the new measures Australia will lead the world on tobacco control; several other countries, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada, are reportedly watching the situation in Australia before implementing similar legislation.


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