http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/nicola-roxon-stands-firm-on-tobacco-road/story-e6frf7jx-1226220941039
Health Minister Nicola Roxon has released new graphic health warnings for tobacco packaging for community consultation. Picture: Kym Smith Source: The Daily Telegraph
INCOMING attorney-general Nicola Roxon says the Government won’t be bullied by the tobacco industry over its plain-packaging legislation.
“We are not going to … allow ourselves to be intimidated because they are threatening litigation and are telling the world that they have deep pockets,” Ms Roxon said in Sydney today.
“But if you are doing something that is a world first and is new in Australia that means it will be tested, especially if you are doing it to a tobacco company.”
Ms Roxon said it made sense for her to remain at the forefront of the fight against big tobacco in her new role as attorney-general.
“(The fight) is now moving into the courts so that is an appropriate thing to do.”
British American Tobacco (BAT) recently launched a challenge in the High Court, claiming that the Government is trying to acquire valuable intellectual property with the legislation.
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- Tobacco giant ‘left with no option’ but to sue Perth Now, 21 Nov 2011
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Under the legislation all tobacco products will have to be sold in drab olive-brown packs from December 2012.
Graphic health warnings will dominate the packages instead of brand names and logos.