Iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest challenges South Australian politicians to raise smoking age to 21

BILLIONAIRE philanthropist and mining magnate Andrew Forrest is challenging South Australian politicians to raise the smoking age from 18 to 21 to help save $20 billion and 15,000 lives annually.

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BILLIONAIRE philanthropist and mining magnate Andrew Forrest is challenging South Australian politicians to raise the minimum smoking age from 18 to 21 to help save $20 billion and 15,000 lives annually.

In a targeted pitch designed to influence the campaign for next March’s state election, Mr Forrest is urging all SA parties to back his charity foundation’s campaign to “give our kids freedom from this hideous persuasion until they’re 21”.

Speaking to The Advertiser, Mr Forrest — the sixth-richest Australian — said 95 per cent of adult smokers started when aged under 21, fuelling an addiction causing 15,000 Australian deaths annually.

Likening smoking’s death toll to Australian casualties in the two world wars, Mr Forrest declared: “We’re at the worst war we’ve ever been in”.

Labor, Liberal and Nick Xenophon’s SA-Best party are vowing to consider his option to reduce tobacco-related harm despite Mr Forrest’s warning of the industry’s insidious power.

As part of an unprecedented assault on the industry, Mr Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation is also seeking advice on a lawsuit against big tobacco for potentially billions of dollars, on behalf of smokers and “living victims”.

His Eliminate Tobacco campaign cites official statistics showing the industry drains $31.5 billion from the Australian economy annually through chronic health care costs.

In contrast, it returns only $10 billion in federal taxes.

“I would be surprised if any party did not adopt this as their own policy,” Mr Forrest said.

“Whether or not you’re an Opposition (MP), you’re a Greens (politician), you’re in Government, it really doesn’t matter.

“You are not out there to have your voters tip $20 billion bucks into the bin supporting big tobacco per annum and losing 15,000 Australians.”

The Fortescue Metals Group founder and chairman said raising the smoking age would require two simple law changes — an age adjustment and tighter enforcement using the same regime as alcohol.

Australian businessman and philanthropist Andrew Forrest. pic Colin Murty

He labelled existing controls on underage smoking inadequate with penalties akin to “a smack on the wrist”.

Mr Forrest highlighted a jump in smoking rates among young Australians from 1.5 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds to 11.6 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds.

“I don’t see this as a difficult argument to logical people (but) it will be a very difficult argument to win because the tobacco industry survives on population-wide manipulation,” Mr Forrest said.

He predicted counterarguments would include presenting smoking as a democratic, human right and allegations that lifting the legal age would hurt small retailers.

“There seems to be a fear of the power of the tobacco industry lobby and I would like to out that,” he said.

“I’d like to say: ‘the tobacco industry lobby is insidious and powerful and it catches people and they find themselves doing the will of the tobacco industry, directly or indirectly’.

“There are still desperado politicians being funded by the tobacco industry directly but the tobacco industry is out there with its grip funding retail organisations, funding any number of organisations which will come in swinging.”

Multinational tobacco giant Philip Morris spokesman Patrick Muttart said last night: “Philip Morris shares Mr Forrest’s interest in ending smoking in Australia.

Philip Morris International has embarked on a historic transformation of its business to develop substantially reduced-risk alternatives to smoking and has committed itself to realising a future in which these smoke-free alternatives will ultimately replace cigarettes.

This included an IQOS – heating tobacco rather than burning it – which industry figures show three million, or 8000 smokers a day, had switched to worldwide.

Health Minister Peter Malinauskas said SA’s smoking prevalence was now at its lowest on record — about 11 per cent and eight per cent of 15 to 29-year-olds — because of public campaigns, legislative change, excise tax increases and plain cigarette packaging.

“I will continue to consider all options to reduce the harm caused by smoking and second hand smoke, along with other states and territories,” he said.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the state Liberals were open to looking at all useful measures to reduce tobacco consumption and harm.

“We would welcome a discussion with Mr Forrest and his organisation about his suggestions,” he said.

“We also support strict enforcement of tobacco regulations and would like to see a renewed focus on enforcement.”

Senator Xenophon said raising the smoking age needed to be explored further, based on expert evidence and community consultation.

“It could work but only if part of a broader strategy to effectively reduce the damage and harm caused by illicit drugs,” he said.