A chorus of health groups has criticised the coalition Government’s plan to roll back smokefree restrictions.
Sarah Dalton, the chief executive of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists representing senior doctors and dentists, says its members see the results of long term tobacco use every day … especially among Māori and Pasifika people.
“And they come with massive health costs, massive human costs, and massive economic costs. For a Government that thinks it wants to save money – they’re going about it in a very strange way,” she says.
Health Minister Shane Reti denies that revenue from cigarette sales was costed into the Government’s fiscal plans
He says the reason for repealing smokefree legislation was concern about crime, as the Government believed reducing the number of outlets would lead to more ram raids and an increase in the black market.
“This was never costed into our fiscal plan. The increase in excise is a by-product of the policy, not a reason for the policy, and I think that has been stated quite clearly,” he says.
Dr Reti says the primary reason smoking rates have fallen is because of vaping, and support for that will continue.
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