The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is delighted to see that the Australian Government has won the legal case brought against them by tobacco giant Philip Morris over plain packaging laws. Philip Morris was attempting to sue the Australian Government for lost profit under Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) trade agreement clauses.
“The New Zealand Government has been very clear that it was ‘wait and see’ for plain packaging over here, depending on the outcome of the Philip Morris case in Australia” said NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku.
“Today the court proved the tobacco giant had no leg to stand on, and there is no further reason to delay introducing plain packaging in New Zealand. Time lost is lives lost.”
“I’m calling on the Government to announce plain packaging laws here immediately. Those lured to smoke by tobacco companies’ marketing are predominantly young, Māori and female. Any further delays will be responsible for more grieving whānau missing out on years with their daughters, sisters and mums. The best Christmas present the Government could give whānau is announcing plain packaging today .”
The US Surgeon General’s report linking tobacco smoking to lung cancer was published in 1969, wasn’t it?
Let’s see if 46 years of foot-dragging by so-called leaders can be extended to 50 years of foot-dragging by so-called leaders.
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