Why wait for tobacco displays consultation?


Labour’s associate health spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway has welcomed today’s announcement that the Health Ministry will begin consultation on banning tobacco displays.

“However, the time taken to carry out this process is totally unnecessary as the evidence is already before the government,” Iain Lees-Galloway said.

“The whole process smacks of delaying tactics and wanting to appear to be doing something.

“Submissions were made to health select committee following a 20,000-signature petition to Parliament in September 2008, and the select committee recommended a ban.

“Submitters in a new round of consultation will just be repeating themselves.

“The truth is that the Government could have acted to stop shops displaying walls of cigarettes a year ago but Health Minister Tony Ryall kicked for touch.

“It’s a fair bet that Mr Ryall still needs to be convinced. But I hope for the sake of the around 5000 people who die every year of tobacco related illnesses that Tariana Turia has more impact than she has had thus far.

“While the National-led government seeks to find more excuses not to act, I will continue to submit my Smoke-free Environments (Banning Tobacco Displays) Amendment Bill to the ballot,” Iain Less-Galloway said.

ENDS

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