Coalition hedges on Roxon's plain cigarette packaging laws for Australia

THE Coalition is refusing to endorse plain cigarette packaging unveiled by Nicola Roxon today, saying it will examine the details of the proposed laws.

Roxon with cigarette pack

THE Coalition is refusing to endorse plain cigarette packaging unveiled by Health Minister Nicola Roxon today, saying it will examine the details of proposed legislation before deciding whether to support the change.

Ms Roxon said the olive-coloured packs, emblazoned with confronting pictures of rotting teeth and diseased eyes, would be the toughest anti-tobacco marketing measure in the world.

She called on the Coalition, which accepts political donations from tobacco companies, to back the change in the interest of public health.

"There is a clear question for Mr Abbott today: will you join with the Gillard government or will you continue to be in the pocket of big tobacco and accept their donations?" said Ms Roxon.

A spokesman for Opposition leader Tony Abbott said the Coalition was yet to decide its position.

"We do support sensible measures that are proven to lead to reduced levels of smoking but we want to wait and see the full legislation, and what evidence they are relying on that plain packaging does reduce smoking rates," he said.

Opposition health spokesman Peter Dutton said in 2009 that a ban on cigarette branding would be "a bridge too far".

Cigarette giant British American Tobacco Australia flagged a massive legal fight against proposed plain packaging.

BATA said the government might have to pay billions of dollars in compensation to cigarette firms if it pushed ahead with the plan.

The company, whose brands include Winfield, Dunhill and Benson & Hedges, said the proposal would infringe international trademark and intellectual property laws.

"The government could end up wasting millions of taxpayers' dollars in legal fees trying to defend their decision, let alone the potential to pay billions to the tobacco industry for taking away our intellectual property," spokesman Scott McIntyre said.

Australia would be the first country to mandate plain packaging of cigarettes.

New Zealand, Canada and Britain have considered a similar policy and are likely to be watching to see if Australia succeeds. BATA has called on the government to cancel its plans for plain packaging and consult with the industry.

It argues alcohol and fast food companies wouldn't stand having their branding taken away from them.

The company also claims plain packaging would encourage a black market in tobacco.

Unveiling draft legislation to enable to branding clampdown, Ms Roxon said the government was proud to lead the world on tobacco control.

"This plain packaging legislation is a world first and sends a clear message that the glamour is gone. Cigarette packs will now only show the death and disease that can come from smoking," she said.

"The new packs have been designed to have the lowest appeal to smokers and to make clear the terrible effects that smoking can have on your health.

"The legislation will restrict tobacco industry logos, brand imagery, colours and promotional text appearing on packs.

"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."

She said smoking killed 15,000 Australians and cost society $31.5 billion a year.

TOBACCO PRODUCTS BILL FACTBOX

LEGISLATION:
*Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011
*Restricts branding, other than product brand name, on cigarette packs and tobacco products sold
*Includes restrictions on symbols, logos and other design features such as novel packaging material, embossing and foils
*Cigarette packs must be a specific shade of dark olive brown in matt finish.
*Brand name can appear on top, bottom and front of packs in a specific font legible from one metre.
*Anti-counterfeiting techniques allowed, including unique alphanumeric codes.

IMPLEMENTATION:
*60 days for public comment
*Bill to be introduced during the winter 2011 federal parliament sitting
*If passed, comes into effect January 1, 2012
*Tobacco products sold must comply by July 1, 2012

ENFORCEMENT:
*Criminal, civil penalties apply to sales of non-compliant packs from July 1, 2011
*Health regulatory unit within federal department to monitor enforcement.

HISTORY:
*In 2009, the conference of the parties to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention agreed plain packaging should be considered as part of comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising.

*Australia is the first signatory and the first country in the world to commit to implementing recommendations.

- with AAP