Leading the World on Tobacco Plain Packaging
The Australian Government’s world leading efforts to reduce the death and disease caused by smoking pushed ahead with the introduction of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Billinto the Parliament.
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6 July 2011
The Gillard Government’s world leading efforts to reduce the death and disease caused by smoking pushed ahead today with the introduction of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill into the Parliament.
“This world first initiative sends a clear message that the glamour is gone from smoking,” Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said.
The legislation requires all tobacco sold in Australia to be sold in plain packs – with no industry logos, brand imagery, colours and promotional text.
The only thing to distinguish one brand from another will be the brand and product name in a standard colour, standard position and standard font size and style.
In addition, health warnings will be updated and increased from 30 per cent to 75 per cent of the front of the pack, as well as 90 per cent of the back.
“The Gillard Government is absolutely committed to reducing smoking related death and disease and with 15,000 Australians dying from tobacco related illness each year we cannot afford to idly stand by.
“Plain packaging will remove the last remaining form of tobacco advertising in Australia.
“We know that packaging today is a very powerful marketing tool for tobacco companies to recruit new smokers to their deadly products. In the future, cigarette packets will now only serve as a stark reminder of the devastating health effects of smoking.
“Big tobacco is vigorously fighting against this legislation for one very simple reason – because they know, as we do, that it will work. While they are fighting to protect their profits, we are fighting to protect lives.
“It’s disappointing that Tony Abbott had to be dragged kicking and screaming into supporting this bill for a quick political fix – but this is the same Tony Abbott that still accepts donations from the Big Tobacco.”
The Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill will make it an offence to sell, supply, purchase, package, or manufacture tobacco products for retail sale in Australia in anything other than the plain packaging requirements set out in the Bill and regulations
The maximum penalty under the Act for an individual will be 2,000 penalty units (currently $220,000), and for a body corporate, 10,000 penalty units (currently $1.1 million). The offences will not apply to people who purchase cigarettes for their personal use.
The Government plans for the legislation to commence on 1 January 2012, with all products on sale required to comply with the new laws within six months.
The legislation was developed following extensive consultation, including providing the Exposure Draft legislation for public comment for 60 days.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 0409 945 476
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