Casey Costello breached rules by giving tobacco industry-friendly document to health officials
Casey Costello breached rules for handling Ministerial information by giving a tobacco industry-friendly document to health officials for policy development – without knowing its author or origin.
An investigation by the Chief Archivist, which began in November 2024, found the New Zealand First Associate Health Minister failed to comply with the Public Records Act.
But the inquiry has still not revealed who wrote the ‘mystery document’, which argued for tax cuts for Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) and claimed nicotine was no more harmful than caffeine.
“Neither the Associate Minister nor the Minister’s office staff had been able to confirm who had written tobacco policy notes that were held in the Minister’s office in paper form and used for ministerial purposes,” the Chief Archivist Anahera Morehu said.
In her report, the Chief Archivist told Costello that “in the case of the tobacco policy notes, you and your office did not meet the requirement” of the Public Records Act to create and maintain full and accurate records.
So who actually wrote the ‘mystery document’ that is full of Big Tobacco talking points?
Costello was a lobbyist for Big Tobacco.
A ‘mystery document’ that gives Big Tobacco $216m in subsidies!
Yet no one can actually point to who wrote the ‘mystery document’???
How much must you hate Trans people and blame Jacinda for this to be acceptable to you Kiwi?
When you voted National, did you honestly think you would be pouring hundreds of millions into the pockets of Big Tobacco?
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She probably wrote it her self or got Bishop, one of the other tobacco employees to get one of his mates to do it
The Fag Hag has no scruples or integrity, is a a race hating Hobson Pledger. This public disservice MEFirst Party headed by a political reptile sellout is showing it’s true duplicity and harming our children & people/Tangata Whenua/ Tangata Tiriti. How much more of this do people need to see and hear and know that these greedy charlatans can’t get over 5% next time. Winston Peters doesn’t give a fuck who he sells his arse too, always a divisive, racist, egotistical, driven by a massive ego & being bullied by his childhood stutter. Will say anything from his politically bigoted playbook to suck a vote out of the politically naive & the already internally biased & bigoted mob. Keep fagging/vaping Winnie & Fag Hag. Rimmer would be so much happier if you both clocked out a bit early so he could suck your vote off for more Atlas Network strategizing.
Isn’t she a list MP?