Updated ‘graphic images’ on cigarette packages under smoking crackdown

Cigarette packaging will be emblazoned with new graphic images, health warnings will be printed on individual cigarettes and vapes will face tougher advertising restrictions, under a major government crackdown.

Cigarette packaging will be emblazoned with new graphic images, health warnings will be printed on individual cigarettes and vapes will face tougher advertising restrictions, under a government crackdown.

Health Minister Mark Butler unveiled draft legislation on Wednesday that also bans menthol-flavoured and “vogue style” cigarettes to reduce their appeal to young people. All packet sizes will become the same and phrases such as “smooth”, “cool crush” or “fresh burst” will be outlawed in advertising.

The legislation must pass the parliament by April 1 next year, when 10-year-old plain packaging laws introduced by former health minister Nicola Roxon expire. If the deadline is not met, the tobacco industry will revert to being unregulated.

“We are determined to keep renewing the fight against an industry that keeps changing its strategy … to get around what a government might decide from time to time,” Mr Butler said.

“So you can’t just set and forget, you’ve got to remain agile. You’ve got to recognise what the industry is doing to keep that market share, keep marketing the product of death. That really is what it’s doing.”

Mr Butler said smoking rates had stalled at 12 per cent of the population or two million adults, blaming the flatline in smoking rates on years of inaction during the Coalition government.

“Broadly, these measures that are contained in the draft legislation, seek to deal with marketing strategies the tobacco industry has put in place to get around the intention of plain packaging and graphic warning in the reforms put in place 10 years ago,” Mr Butler said.

He said the graphic images on packets would be updated due to smokers becoming “desensitised through familiarity”.