Australian Politics Forum - Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure

buzzanddidj

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 14213
Eganstown, via Daylesford, VIC
Gender: male

Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
May 18^th, 2011 at 10:10am

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott may not support plain-packaged cigarettes as the tobacco industry threatens to slash the cost of cigarettes if the Gillard government pushes ahead with the anti-smoking legislation.

Mr Abbott, who is yet to back the government's proposal, says he is happy to support any policy that has been proven to curb smoking rates.

"But my anxiety with this [plain packaging proposal] is that it may end up being counterproductive
in practice," he told reporters today.

The
Liberal Party of Australia
is the ONLY major Australian political party reliant on the tobacco industry for funding

Health campaigners and Health Minister Nicola Roxon have branded the tobacco industry's threat to cut the cost of cigarettes if plain packaging is introduced as a stunt.

Ms Roxon said she expected the fight from the tobacco industry, but not from Mr Abbott.

"We thought he would side with protecting Australian lives, not with big tobacco,"

Ms Roxon told the DMG Radio Australia network in Adelaide.

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said the tobacco industry was terrified about losing its branding and could not be believed.

"This is clearly an industry in crisis and they're running scared abut the impact of plain packaging on their profits," she said.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-cold-on-plain-cigarette-packs-20110517-1eq...

Back to top

'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

IP Logged

... Gold Member Offline Posts: 23673 WA Gender:	Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure Reply #1 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:14am So he may not support a proposal which has been demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates, and this is 'bowing to the tobacco industry'? Pffft.
Back to top	In the fullness of time... IP Logged

Please delete Gold Member Offline Please delete this smacking PROFILE Posts: 2936	Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure Reply #2 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:35am ... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:14am: So he may not support a proposal which has been demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates, and this is 'bowing to the tobacco industry'? Pffft. Where was it demonstrated, wesley?
Back to top	IP Logged

Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure Reply #3 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:36am Both parties when in Government are addicted to tobacco. You take away the tobacco tax and there is a hole in the budget the size of the Grand Canyon.
Back to top	Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination - Oscar Wilde IP Logged

...

Gold Member

Offline

Posts: 23673
WA
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #4 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:39am

Please delete wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:35am:

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:14am:

So he may not support a proposal which has been demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates, and this is 'bowing to the tobacco industry'?

Pffft.

Where was it demonstrated, wesley?

I'm glad you asked Earnest.

Quote:

Plain packaging will not reduce smoking rates
Studies have failed to show that having all legitimate cigarettes sold in plain packs will reduce overall tobacco consumption. This point has been acknowledged in various official documents in Australia, Canada and the UK. For instance, the UK Department of Health’s 2008 document describes the impact of plain packaging on total tobacco consumption as "speculative". In 1994, the Standing Committee on Health of the Canadian Parliament heard presentations on four studies cited in support of and against plain packaging, and found that these studies did not show evidence that plain packaging will reduce tobacco consumption

http://www.plain-packaging.com/Templates/Blank_NoEvidence.aspx

You'd have to follow the link to get a more in-depth analaysis of it.

Back to top

In the fullness of time...

IP Logged

Dsmithy70

Gold Member

Offline

ire futuis vobismetipsis

Posts: 13147
Newy
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #5 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:44am

I loved their spiel on Lateline last night.
"black market tobacco has increased 150%"
Sounds great until you realise 150% could be going from 1 to 2.5.
Also love the threat that they'll drop the price, well if that happens increase the tax to keep the selling price at $17 a packet, another win for the government.
Abbott's just stalling because he WILL NOT AGREE with anything, he seems to think it will weaken his position & he seems to be too thick to realise that's exactly what his doing.
This maybe the 1 thing this government actually sticks to without watering down, a step in the right direction.
P.S I smoke although trying to quit.

Back to top

REBELLION is not what most people think it is.
REBELLION is when you turn off the TV & start educating & thinking for yourself.
Gavin Nascimento

IP Logged

Dsmithy70

Gold Member

Offline

ire futuis vobismetipsis

Posts: 13147
Newy
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #6 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:46am

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:39am:

Please delete wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:35am:

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:14am:

So he may not support a proposal which has been demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates, and this is 'bowing to the tobacco industry'?

Pffft.

Where was it demonstrated, wesley?

I'm glad you asked Earnest.

Quote:

Plain packaging will not reduce smoking rates
Studies have failed to show that having all legitimate cigarettes sold in plain packs will reduce overall tobacco consumption. This point has been acknowledged in various official documents in Australia, Canada and the UK. For instance, the UK Department of Health’s 2008 document describes the impact of plain packaging on total tobacco consumption as "speculative". In 1994, the Standing Committee on Health of the Canadian Parliament heard presentations on four studies cited in support of and against plain packaging, and found that these studies did not show evidence that plain packaging will reduce tobacco consumption

http://www.plain-packaging.com/Templates/Blank_NoEvidence.aspx

You'd have to follow the link to get a more in-depth analaysis of it.

The quote on this study from Lateline
"Proudly commissioned by British American Tobacco"

Back to top

REBELLION is not what most people think it is.
REBELLION is when you turn off the TV & start educating & thinking for yourself.
Gavin Nascimento

IP Logged

Andrei.Hicks

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 23818
Carlsbad, CA
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #7 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:46am

Dsmithy70 wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:44am:

I loved their spiel on Lateline last night.
"black market tobacco has increased 150%"
Sounds great until you realise 150% could be going from 1 to 2.5.
Also love the threat that they'll drop the price, well if that happens increase the tax to keep the selling price at $17 a packet, another win for the government.
Abbott's just stalling because he WILL NOT AGREE with anything, he seems to think it will weaken his position & he seems to be too thick to realise that's exactly what his doing.
This maybe the 1 thing this government actually sticks to without watering down, a step in the right direction.
P.S I smoke although trying to quit.

As a non-smoker, the price itself doesn't affect me.

I just hate big Government and I hate a nanny state.

The Government spends too much time telling us what we can and can't do.
People are grown ups, stop interfering in people's lives.

Back to top

Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination - Oscar Wilde

IP Logged

buzzanddidj

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 14213
Eganstown, via Daylesford, VIC
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #8 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:46am

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:14am:

So he may not support a proposal which has been demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates

"demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates" ?

It's a WORLD FIRST

Why do you think the tobacco industry have gone into PANIC MODE ?

INCREASED SALES ?

Quote:

Smoking is the single greatest cause of death and disease in Australia. According to the 2001 National Drug Strategy Household Survey tobacco use caused

19,000 deaths

and

142,500 hospital episodes

were attributed to tobacco smoking.

Australian Electoral Commission data shows that between 1998 & 2006 the Liberal Party has received

$697,065.00 from British American Tobacco

and

$337,340.00 from Philip Morris

.

Back to top

'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

IP Logged

... Gold Member Offline Posts: 23673 WA Gender:	Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure Reply #9 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:48am Quote: Mr Abbott, who is yet to back the government's proposal, says he is happy to support any policy that has been proven to curb smoking rates. How dare he not immediately rush to support the governmenets hare brained schemes, regardless of whether they will work or not?
Back to top	In the fullness of time... IP Logged

Andrei.Hicks Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 23818 Carlsbad, CA Gender:	Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure Reply #10 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:48am I know you're big on related parties disclosure smithy so for the record I will admit I have reasonably sized investment in shares in British American Tobacco PLC on the London Stock Exchange.
Back to top	Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination - Oscar Wilde IP Logged

...

Gold Member

Offline

Posts: 23673
WA
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #11 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:53am

Dsmithy70 wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:46am:

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:39am:

Please delete wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:35am:

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:14am:

So he may not support a proposal which has been demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates, and this is 'bowing to the tobacco industry'?

Pffft.

Where was it demonstrated, wesley?

I'm glad you asked Earnest.

Quote:

Plain packaging will not reduce smoking rates
Studies have failed to show that having all legitimate cigarettes sold in plain packs will reduce overall tobacco consumption. This point has been acknowledged in various official documents in Australia, Canada and the UK. For instance, the UK Department of Health’s 2008 document describes the impact of plain packaging on total tobacco consumption as "speculative". In 1994, the Standing Committee on Health of the Canadian Parliament heard presentations on four studies cited in support of and against plain packaging, and found that these studies did not show evidence that plain packaging will reduce tobacco consumption

http://www.plain-packaging.com/Templates/Blank_NoEvidence.aspx

You'd have to follow the link to get a more in-depth analaysis of it.

The quote on this study from Lateline
"Proudly commissioned by British American Tobacco"

aaaactually, it says 'philip morris' on the website. But still, I don't think it will work. People don't get addicted to the packaging.

Back to top

In the fullness of time...

IP Logged

Andrei.Hicks

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 23818
Carlsbad, CA
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #12 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:56am

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:53am:

Dsmithy70 wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:46am:

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:39am:

Please delete wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:35am:

... wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:14am:

So he may not support a proposal which has been demonstrated to have zero effect on lowering smoking rates, and this is 'bowing to the tobacco industry'?

Pffft.

Where was it demonstrated, wesley?

I'm glad you asked Earnest.

Quote:

Plain packaging will not reduce smoking rates
Studies have failed to show that having all legitimate cigarettes sold in plain packs will reduce overall tobacco consumption. This point has been acknowledged in various official documents in Australia, Canada and the UK. For instance, the UK Department of Health’s 2008 document describes the impact of plain packaging on total tobacco consumption as "speculative". In 1994, the Standing Committee on Health of the Canadian Parliament heard presentations on four studies cited in support of and against plain packaging, and found that these studies did not show evidence that plain packaging will reduce tobacco consumption

http://www.plain-packaging.com/Templates/Blank_NoEvidence.aspx

You'd have to follow the link to get a more in-depth analaysis of it.

The quote on this study from Lateline
"Proudly commissioned by British American Tobacco"

aaaactually, it says 'philip morris' on the website. But still, I don't think it will work. People don't get addicted to the packaging.

I am yet to ever hear somebody say they started up smoking because they were impressed by the shiny colouring of the packet.

Peer pressure, stress, depression, nerves, teenage rebellion.

Shiny packaging?!

Back to top

Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination - Oscar Wilde

IP Logged

buzzanddidj

Gold Member

Offline

Australian Politics

Posts: 14213
Eganstown, via Daylesford, VIC
Gender: male

Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure
Reply #13 - May 18^th, 2011 at 11:56am

Andrei.Hicks wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:46am:

Dsmithy70 wrote on May 18^th, 2011 at 11:44am:

I loved their spiel on Lateline last night.
"black market tobacco has increased 150%"
Sounds great until you realise 150% could be going from 1 to 2.5.
Also love the threat that they'll drop the price, well if that happens increase the tax to keep the selling price at $17 a packet, another win for the government.
Abbott's just stalling because he WILL NOT AGREE with anything, he seems to think it will weaken his position & he seems to be too thick to realise that's exactly what his doing.
This maybe the 1 thing this government actually sticks to without watering down, a step in the right direction.
P.S I smoke although trying to quit.

As a non-smoker, the price itself doesn't affect me.

I just hate big Government and I hate a nanny state.

The Government spends too much time telling us what we can and can't do.
People are grown ups, stop interfering in people's lives.

I guess you'd see ALL drugs legalised, on that basis ?

Back to top

'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.'

- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

IP Logged

buzzanddidj Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 14213 Eganstown, via Daylesford, VIC Gender:	Re: Abbott Bows to Tobacco Industry Pressure Reply #14 - May 18^th, 2011 at 12:02pm Poll added
Back to top	'I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.' - Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi IP Logged

Poll
Question: Should the Liberal Party accept tobacco funding ?
Yes No « Created by: buzzanddidj on: May 18^th, 2011 at 12:02pm »