Health warning labels may soon be printed on individual cigarettes under harsh new crackdown on smoking
- The total number of smokers has stopped falling
- But smoking is on the rise among young people
Individual cigarettes could have health warning labels under reforms designed to eradicate smoking.
Health Minister Mark Butler unveiled the government’s ambitious plan to overhaul tobacco control and reduce smoking rates to less than five percent by the end of the decade.
But he ruled out Australia following New Zealand’s path of imposing age-based bans to prevent the next generation of smokers.
“This is a truly progressive, globally leading package that will make a real difference,” Butler told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
Individual cigarettes could have health warning labels as part of reforms aimed at eradicating smoking (stock image)
Health Minister Mark Butler unveiled the government’s ambitious plan to overhaul tobacco control and reduce smoking rates to less than five percent by the end of the decade. Pictured, current health warnings on packaging
Under the proposed laws, which coincide with World No Tobacco Day, individual cigarettes will carry health warnings, packs will have enhanced graphic warnings, packaging and product sizes will be standardized, certain additives will be banned, and the use of catchy names will be prohibited. be limited.
Mr Butler sounded the alarm about the number of smokers in Australia which has fallen to around two million daily smokers after decades of decline.
He said he wouldn’t “raise the white flag” about smoking to 12 percent of adults when the rate was rising among young people.
“We are committed to renewing the fight against an industry that continues to change its strategy… to sidestep what a government might decide,” Butler said.
“So you can’t just set and forget.
“You have to stay limber.”
Asked whether the government would consider restricting tobacco lobbyists access to parliament, Mr Butler said this was not a government decision.
“I will be writing to all MPs … to remind every MP, senator and public servant, by the way, that Australia is a signatory to a convention under the World Health Organization that very clearly warns against direct contact with the tobacco industry,” he said.
Vapes or e-cigarettes are captured under advertising restrictions.
Trent Twomey, president of the Pharmacy Guild, questioned the government resources allocated to vape enforcement.
‘Are pharmacists going to become police officers now?’ he said.
“I have at least half a dozen vape shops near my dispensaries.
Federal Health Secretary Mark Butler previously announced that tobacco taxes would be increased by 5 percent per year starting in September for the next three years.
‘I don’t see how this will work in practice.’
The legislation will be introduced to parliament later this year to replace the current controls that expire in April next year.
The public consultation will remain open until mid-July.
Butler previously announced that starting in September, the tobacco tax would be increased by five percent per year for the next three years.