February 19, 2013
Turia gets her way on plain packaging
Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia is confident plain packaging for cigarettes can overcome any legal challenges from the tobacco industry.
New Zealand is following Australia’s lead, which in already reporting increasing numbers of people quitting now that cigarettes can only be bought in plain olive-green packets.
The Australian Government is being challenged by tobacco companies who say their intellectual property rights are being trampled on.
But Mrs Turia says she won’t be scared off policy that will save lives and cut the health bill.
“In the international agreements we’ve got, it’s very clear that we do have protection in terms of health and so I’m fairly confident that regardless as to whether they take it to court. I would doubt very much that they would win and I’m very keen for that to advance," says Mrs Turia.
Tariana Turia says Māori families are among those most affected by the 5000 people in New Zealand dying every year from smoking-related illness.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd