Volume 197 - Issue 5
Tobacco plain packaging
Authors: Mike M Daube and Simon Chapman
Med J Aust 2012; 197 (5): 272. || doi: 10.5694/mja12.11281
Published online: 3 September 2012
Published online: 3 September 2012
The recent High Court decision that dismissed the tobacco industry’s case against tobacco plain packaging has rightly been hailed as a landmark victory for the federal government and public health against a lethal industry. The Attorney-General (and former Health Minister), Nicola Roxon, deserves the highest praise for her leadership and determination to reduce Australia’s tobacco-related death toll, as do the politicians of ...
To the Editor: The recent High Court decision that dismissed the tobacco industry’s case against tobacco plain packaging has rightly been hailed as a landmark victory for the federal government and public health against a lethal industry.1 The Attorney-General (and former Health Minister), Nicola Roxon, deserves the highest praise for her leadership and determination to reduce Australia’s tobacco-related death toll, as do the politicians of all parties who backed the legislation, and the public servants who did so much work behind the scenes.
We would also like to thank, through the Journal, all the members of the Australian health community who played such a crucial role in ensuring that the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011 (Cwlth) would be supported in Parliament and in the court of public opinion. Health and medical organisations, researchers, academics, doctors and other health professionals around the country all recognised the importance of the issue, led and contributed to the public debate, and responded willingly to requests for assistance.
We believe that the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act will be seen as a turning point for tobacco control both in Australia and internationally. As with many other vanguard initiatives in tobacco control, we expect to see it “domino” in a growing number of nations. We thank all our colleagues who helped make it happen.
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- Metherell M. Big tobacco loses High Court battle over plain packaging. Sydney Morning Herald 2012; 15 Aug. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/big-tobacco-loses-high-court-battle-over-plain-packaging-20120815-247kz.html (accessed Aug 2012).