Under the new rules, cigarettes can only by sold in plain olive green packs with prominent and graphic health warnings.
The laws were introduced into the Australian parliament on Wednesday and should come into force on Jan 1 next year.
With other countries including Britain known to be considering similar restrictions, the success of the crackdown will be closely scrutinised.
The laws have been introduced despite a fierce backlash by cigarette companies, with the Australian government pledging to defy “big tobacco’s intimidation tactics”.
In response, tobacco firms have launched legal action and a nationwide advertising campaign that claims Australia is a “nanny state” and that alcohol will be the next product to be banned. » | Jonathan Pearlman, Sydney | Wednesday, July 06, 2011
What a stupid little nanny-state Australia has become! Elect a Welsh Blodwen and this is what you get: absurdity!
If Australians are now to accept that logos are to be banned for tobacco products, are we going to see a level playing field and see logos banned for sugar products (after all, sugar causes diabetes), and fatty products (after all, fat causes obesity), and salty products (after all, too much salt causes hypertension, hence wreaks havoc with the circulatory system)? The possibilities are endless. Why don't they ban meddlesome, pea-brained politicians? After all, it would be a favour to the world! A blessing. – © Mark
