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Of course, with every action there is always a reaction. We have seen that with the Rothmans campaign which has featured on television in recent times. They are mounting a campaign which is aimed, basically, at recruiting more smokers and retaining the ones they have. I am a little disappointed that a prominent Canberran is associated with that campaign. You really have to question the morals of peddling this stuff. We come to tolerate tobacco companies doing it because we know why they are doing it, but you would have to wonder why anybody would want to be associated with it.

Mr Humphries: Name him.

Mr Osborne: Get into him.

Mr De Domenico: Why not have a go at him? Tear him apart. Name him.

Mr Hird: Mention his name.

MR BERRY: No. I leave that to you lot. The Rothmans campaign certainly deserves condemnation. I have to say that, in being associated with that campaign, you associate yourself with the pain and suffering which is tolerated by the community - less so these days. I should also add that the costs of addiction are borne by us in many ways. I heard it said this morning that $9 billion is spent every year on health care and sick leave. That takes into account all of those issues where smoking impacts. It affects not just the smokers but also those who, say, suffer from passive smoking - less so in the ACT these days.

That campaign by Rothmans and their agents has to be opposed. We have to strenuously resist that sort of thing. It is immoral that they have so much money to spend, which is earned by making people sick and getting people hooked. To turn back the clock and expand smoking in this community is a step we cannot afford to take. This Assembly, as a place which has led the way in tobacco law reform, is the ideal place to lead the fight against this new Rothmans campaign. We have shown, as a group, that we have been collectively prepared to work to help people get over their addiction. The general principles of the Health Promotion Fund, which was set up by Labor, have received the support of this Assembly from day one and they continue to have the support of all members of this Assembly. The help that it has offered in the past, I think, has been well appreciated.

With this in mind, I think we are also obliged to look out for the people who may be most affected by the recent increases in the price of tobacco. There has been a general level of support in this place for increasing the tobacco taxes; but, at the same time, that impacts on addicted lower income earners. I think there is a genuine need to do something about the reduction in purchasing power, which can affect the lowest income earners in the community. That is why part of my motion goes to the issue of health care card holders being given relief under the pharmaceutical benefits scheme for the purchase of nicotine patches. Too often, health care card holders suffer from poor health. Tobacco smoking should not add to that situation.


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