Fuming

The Stop This Nanny State website

The tobacco industry has fired off another artillery round in its ongoing campaign against the federal government's planned introduction of plain cigarette packaging. It has already tried to tell us that there is no evidence that these reforms will deter people from smoking, and that plain packaging will only encourage the illegal trade in counterfeit tobacco products. It would have us believe that these reforms are threatening our personal liberties.

How fortunate we ordinary citizens are that we have benevolent tobacco companies to stand up for the rights of the little person against governments who want to runs our lives for us. One tobacco company has set up a website, as seen in the screen grab on the right. If you feel so inclined, you can visit the website, look at the slightly sexist caricature, and then send a message to your local parliamentarian to voice your opposition to the reforms. I'd sooner ask my MHR and Senators to pass the legislation.

If it's all the same to you, tobacco companies, I will definitely not be supporting your campaign. I can see through your blatant window dressing, and your attempts to hold the federal government to ransom by threatening a High Court challenge against the laws. Pardon my cynicism, but I put it to you that your real concern with these reforms is the affect they may have on tobacco company revenues. To find out more about the tobacco industry's misinformation campaign, visit this website.