I refuse to bow down to big tobacco

Lifting smoking age to 21 will work — and all eyes are on Tasmania,

AS readers may have observed over the past month, the tobacco industry and its front groups are very concerned about my Tobacco21 Bill to raise the tobacco purchasing age from 18 to 21.

The Australian Lottery and Newsagents Association, Australasian Association of Convenience Stores, IGA as a subsidiary of the Master Grocers Association, and the Australian Hospitality Association have all received funding from, or are partnered with, the tobacco industry.

These retailers argue that my Bill will be ineffective. Inconsistently, they also argue that T21 will have a catastrophic effect on business because of the reduction in cigarette sales.

They have provided no evidence to back up either of these claims.

This proves the lengths these organisations will go to, to block good, effective policy that threatens their “big tobacco” business associates.

To set the record straight, Russell Zimmerman is not a doctor, epidemiologist or public health expert (“Throw out the Bill, because lifting the smoking age won’t work,” Talking Point, August 16).

I will not be intimidated by tobacco industry benefactors.

Nearly four in five, 78 per cent, of Tasmanians support my proposed Bill — despite the tobacco industry’s fearmongering.

The fact is, T21 will reduce the uptake of smoking in young people in Tasmania. We have extensive evidence now from the US to know this policy works. Tasmania is being closely watched by the Cancer Council, the Australian Medical Association and other Australian states and territories, because it has the potential to be the forerunner of tobacco control across the country.

I am confident with further consultation and negotiation Tasmania will pass the Tobacco21 policy.

Our Government already recognises that 18-21-year-olds are vulnerable in other portfolios.

The Liberal Government expands out of home care for wards of the state aged 18 to 21.

Research shows that providing support to this age group at home with foster parents could reduce smoking rates from 56 per cent to 24 per cent.

As legislators we are not prepared to abandon this cohort of young Tasmanians to the predatory multibilliondollar tobacco industry.

I will not be manacled by an industry whose products kill 500 Tasmanians each year and then seeks to replace those lost with our young people.

Tasmania loses $696 million a year to cigarettes in social and economic costs.

Our hospitals are overrun and our people are suffering from smoking related illnesses — let’s not make this the future for our kids and grandchildren.

I will not be withdrawing my T21 Bill.

I am prepared to do whatever it takes to protect our young people from the tobacco industry.

Once I am satisfied that all members of the Legislative Council have had time to process the documentation provided in the briefing, T21 will be brought forward for debate.

I will not be withdrawing my T21 Bill. I am prepared to do whatever it takes to protect our young people from the tobacco industry