Oh sweet Jesus, this just got so much funnier.
The supposed ‘independent’ advice that this Super Predator Political Lobbyist has been claiming is the ‘evidence’ for implementing sweetheart Tobacco deals that will cost $200million is a hot mess of wild madness…
Casey Costello releases ‘independent’ advice on heated tobacco
The Associate Health Minister Casey Costello’s “independent advice” on heated tobacco products is five articles that are either about different products, outdated, or only offer weak support for her view.
The five documents are not decisive on the benefits of the products.
They include:
-
- A 190-page report from Royal College of Physicians in the UK, published in 2016 that does not specifically mention heated tobacco products
- An article from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) in 2022, suggesting HTPs may help with smoking cessation, but the benefits are reduced if HTPs are used as a replacement for less-harmful vaping, and warns it could encourage non-smokers to use tobacco or lead former smokers to relapse
- A 2016 article (IJERPH) indicating the use of a different tobacco product, Snus, ‘appears to facilitate’ smoking cessation in Sweden
- A 2020 article (IJERPH) about smoking patterns in Japan – where nicotine vaping is not used – showing cigarette sales decreased after the introduction of Heated Tobacco Products
The final article was a comment piece published in the Lancet.
A more recent report from the Royal College of Physicians also says the tobacco industry’s claims heated tobacco products are less harmful than cigarettes is “not yet supported by independent evidence”.
The 2022 article also highlights that while substantial research has been devoted to nicotine vaping products, “much less is known about HTPs”.
“Better information is needed to more precisely define the health risks of HTPs compared to cigarettes and NVPs, the relative appeal of HTPs to consumers, and the likelihood of later transitioning to smoking or quitting all products,” it states.
Costello gave preference to this independent advice over a long list of problems Treasury had identified with the proposal to go ahead with a 50 percent excise tax cut for HTPs, at a cost of up to $216 million.
Among the Cabinet papers and advice provided to Costello, a health analyst at Treasury also referred to a review by the Health Ministry of the most up-to-date available research which found “no compelling evidence of any benefit from the use of heated tobacco products”.
“The World Health Organisation asserts that claims of HTPs as a smoking cessation aid should not be made. We would also advise caution in highlighting positive outcomes from moving from smoked tobacco to Heated Tobacco Products,” the analyst said.
“The aforementioned rapid literature review also noted some evidence of harm from HTPs. This included risks of dependency and addiction, exposure to toxicants, cardiovascular impacts, chronic respiratory disease, and developmental impacts.”
On Monday RNZ revealed Treasury officials had told Costello that tobacco company Philip Morris would be the biggest winner from tax cuts for the products, which they said were toxic and more harmful than vaping.
Philip Morris’ IQOS device is the only heated tobacco product available in New Zealand.
Users insert sticks of tobacco into the device, which heats the tobacco to a vapour rather than burning it.
Treasury said it was not a given that Philip Morris would pass on the cut to consumers, given it had a monopoly in the market.
“It may be that the reduction in excise taxes is not passed through to consumers in price reductions, but rather is retained by the sole importer,” Treasury warned.
Costello initially declined to be interviewed by RNZ or reveal the sources of her independent advice, and did not address specific questions put to her before the story was published.
In a statement, she said: “I have no connections to the tobacco industry and it’s completely wrong to suggest that the tobacco industry has anything to do with these policies, which are aimed at helping people quit smoking.”
She later agreed to a sitdown interview, telling RNZ on Wednesday she had never claimed heated tobacco products (HTPs) were safe, just that they were less harmful than smoking.
“Health confirmed that it’s less harmful than smoking. So what we’re talking about is harm reduction products to send people on a pathway to quit smoking.
“What we knew was that heated tobacco as an alternative to smoking was less harmful than smoking, considerably less harmful. But we definitely weren’t saying it was safe, or suggesting take that up instead of smoking,” Costello said.
…let’s just get this completely straight, her ‘evidence’ for giving the tobacco industry a sweetheart $200million dollar deal are some google searches that don’t actually mention the products she’s pimping?
This is just a fucking farce now.
She’s effectively claimed her homework was eaten by a dog and her evidence is the book ‘Clifford The Big Red Dog‘ which has nothing to do with her homework or actual dogs!
Let’s be very clear where her ‘evidence’ comes from…
…SHE IS PLAYING YOU LIKE CHUMPS YOU STUPID SLEEPY HOBBITS!
Look, you may have hated Jacinda for having the temerity of saving 20 000 lives during a once in a century pandemic, but how can your hatred for Jacinda justify Tobacco Pimps taking hundreds of millions of dollars using bullshit ‘evidence’?
You need to take a long hard look at yourselves in the mirror comrades because if you voted National, ACT, NZF or DIDN’T vote – you enabled this.
Casey Costello is what we is now, she is who we are.
Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.
Check Costello’s and her closet team members browser history. They have probably been madly surfing the net to try and back up her bullshit. They failed
In reply to a previous post I am finding it hard to understand where Costello is coming from..
I hate smoking and all that goes with it health wise.
Why she seems to back the tobacco companies is odd as her father died from smoking related disease and she would know the grim effect smoking has had on Maori.
I do agree with Luxon it may be worth giving some new a trail as we are now down to the hard core smokers that seem to have a death wish
Not feeling too well today Trev thats a massive dead rat for you to swallow maybe you have finally realized you are supporting a group of mass killers who dont give a toss about you and your health and well being
“Why she seems to back the tobacco companies is odd as her father died from smoking related disease and she would know the grim effect smoking has had on Maori.”
Money Trevor, she sold her sole for money, you know it, I know , it everyone knows it.
It’s called corruption and it influences the core of your integrity, she has none, given, as you say, smoking killed her father.
Cassandra Jane “Casey” Costello (born 1965 or 1966) is a New Zealand politician, lobbyist and former police officer.”
From 2016, Costello was a founding trustee of Hobson’s Pledge[7] with former ACT New Zealand leader Don Brash. Hobson’s Pledge is a right-wing lobby group that disputes some constitutional powers of the Treaty of Waitangi and aims to nullify the partnership between the Crown and Māori.[8] Costello was a prominent spokesperson for the lobby group.[9][10][11] Costello’s view is that any policies seeking to redress historical injustices against Māori are “racist and separatist.”[6] She campaigned against the creation of the Australian Indigenous Voice to Parliament at the 2023 referendum, writing in The Spectator Australia that New Zealand’s equivalent to the Voice had “divided” New Zealanders.[12]
Costello has also been involved in the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, a right-wing lobby group, including as board chair.[13][7] She resigned from the board so that she could stand in the 2023 general election.[14]
A trial with something that could be as bad smoking? Why the f would you do that?
Hahah, snus literally has nothing to do with anything like HTPs. This is pathetic.
Good work by RNZ exposing this incompetent/corrupt minister. surely she must now be removed from cabinet.
LOCK HER UP
One wonders why they gave 200 million dollars to a cigarette company in the first place. These fools who call themselves the government are taking us for a ride and this is a smoking gun.!! Luxon may have confidence
( and he sets a low bar ) but the public doesn’t.
I too have ‘independent advice’ (I pulled it out of my magical ring).
Voices tell me Casey Costello is a demon in human form and uses her hypnotic powers to convince members of the Coalition that up is really down, black is really white and tobacco leads users to God.
We need to hold a ceremony and shower her with cigarette ash.
Baldrick is playing “I know nothink…” because he is gutless, not well suited to politics, and knows exactly what will happen if Mrs Costello is sacked–Winston will be at his door…carrying a baseball bat with spikes…
Remember when Claire Curran got relentlessly hounded for alleged diary discrepancies for one pathetic meeting with a media figure? Nothing compared to what this Minister has been up to, securing millions for her Tobacco mates and endangering thousands of NZ peoples health, in a very unsophisticated way. She still thinks like a Detective–I’m da boss.
If she was a Detective, then a look at her arrest record would probably show some serious discrepancies in her investigations.
Why do we keep seeing her ugly face all over the media every day ?Thats right because under the coalition agreement the skin head gang leader gave her the job of repaying the big tobacco lobby for all their lovely cash pre election .Cant wait to see how much the racing industry gets for the massive donations they put up which may have been even bigger than tobacco .Winston will soon start priming us to believe the industry is on its knees and the big players need massive tax cuts and huge write off of stock and farms .
Not feeling too well today Trev thats a massive dead rat for you to swallow maybe you have finally realized you are supporting a group of mass killers who dont give a toss about you and your health and well being
Shes cherry picked rubbish research from unreputable sources and used it to justify her poor policy choice. And based on her last charade (a paper appeared on her desks, and I do not know where it came from) she isn’t fit to be a Minister of anything. Her reputation is in tatters as is her credibility she’s proven she can’t be trusted. It’s obvious she is paying pack NZF sponsors, I mean donors. Given she has a Police background doesn’t say much for them either.
My brother died on Tuesday from a smoke related illness, all, I can say to Cassy is… Go and have a nice cup of coffee and enjoy, you are deluded!
Funny if it wasn’t so sad. TS has a not too bad summation of Costello’s antics.
She’s outdone Maureen P for sure.
I sometimes wonder whether things other than patches and lozenges might be tried
Gradually require a reduction in cigarrette content.
Allow chai and coffee walas to sell a single fag with a coffee or tea at work breaks
2 or 3 a day is better than 20 or 12 or 20 a day..
Constantly raising the price hasn’t been that spectacularly successful for the many that find nicotine one of the hardest addictions to overcome.
Let’s throw everthing at it – aside from the sort of shit Costello and co propose.
You are right OwT. Throw everything at it. Ban all tobacco products and vapes over a one year timeframe. That would give plenty of time for the addicted to get off the habit.
I know some will say the gangs will get the black market going which they may well do but it should be easily tracked by the good old sniff test. Most of us can smell a smoker from 20 meters so no fancy test required. Just follow the smelly and you will find the source.
Money saved by Health can be put towards customs and police to stop the smuggling.
When you say you support a party it does not mean you agree or disagree with all they do .
I support National as their aims are more suited to my reasoning than Labour. I enjoy this blog as it gives me other views of the state of play .The driver of this site was often a harsh critic of Labour but his ambition was tonsee them in power and you would not say he swallowed a rat when he gave Labour a bollocking.
Fair enough Trevor. Ee like that you comment and so much more intelligent than Bot the first.
The only consolation is that she is a one term MP, the downside is she will be responsible with the death of thousands because of her right wing policy.
I think she did not have any advice. The demand for it has led her to find something/anything to convice the stupid that she did have advice.
Nah…I’m not having it. I didn’t vote, she ain’t me and i didn’t enable her.
I’m waiting for an announcement from fag addict Winston Peters that a shadow has shown up on his latest chest Xray.
It doesn’t matter what flimsy reasons she has that fly in the face of literal common sense, what matters is how come she can do it and get away with it? Where are the checks and balances? Same goes for all the other fucked up policies this government are enacting. I guess it’s an election, that’s it. We need more. We need an upper house.
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