‘Absolutely ludicrous’: Casey Costello defends plunge in global tobacco control ranking
Associate health minister Casey Costello has labelled New Zealand’s recent plummet in global tobacco control as “ridiculous” and “ludicrous”.
It comes after the country plummeted from second in the world in 2023 to 53rd in the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index.
The main factors damaging New Zealand’s standing are the repeal of the smokefree generation laws, the tax break benefiting tobacco giant Philip Morris and the movement of staff between politics and the lobbying industry.
Let me see if I can get this complete fucking straight.
The Associate health Minister, Casey Costello, calls us plunging from 2nd to 53rd in global tobacco control rankings is, and I quote, ‘ridiculous’ and ‘ludicrous’.
Really?
The Associate health Minister, who was previously a consultant for Big Tobacco interests…
The Role of tobacco interests in making government policy
…and who was specifically targeted as a NZF asset…
Costello brushes off revelation tobacco giant Philip Morris targeted NZ First
to push through $300m in tobacco subsidies…
A tobacco product tax cut slated for one year has been extended by two
…while using underhand methods to hide Big Tobacco talking points…
Costello found “independent advice” that she preferred
…THAT ASSOCIATE HEALTH MINISTER, is now describing our plunge in global rankings as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘ludicrous’.
Are you Kiwis even paying fucking attention to this?
A Tobacco pimp who was purposely placed inside NZF to protect their interests and who has delivered them $300m in subsidies is running our public health campaign which is now failing?
FFS.
If the Left had done anything like this, it would be on endless media loops with the ZB Troll farm screaming for revenge attacks, yet this tobacco pimp gets away scot free.
The shit you are all prepared to collectively wear to own Jacinda, da Maaaares, da Trans and da vaccines is truly remarkable you ignorant rednecks.
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Another law NZ FIRST SHOULD REPEAL ,but they wont be in government after the next election so wont need to be concerned about that and every other shit law they have enabled .
Yes, and what Costello failed to mention in her talk on RNZ the other day was the increased uptake of vaping, and we now have non- smokers vaping when they never smoked and many young people vaping, not good.
I see she spoke up proudly about supporting the Regulatory standards bill and yet her boss has now poo pooed it, making a mockery of her and her speech. How the fuck did she get that job of arrrss so c it minister of health she has no qualification for this role, and it shows.
Casey, those words describe you and your cancer stick policies…”‘ridiculous’ and ‘ludicrous’.”
I’d add, your face is not a great advertisement for smoking. Not yet 60 yet your chronological age looks 10 years older.
Hobson Pledges people for yah Bomber not only are they fucken despicable acolytes Maori hating scum sucking bottom feeders they’re also corrupt to the core