Another good critiquing of the failure by a minister of this government to be open and honest in the handling of such an important health issue in New Zealand. It is simply not credible that Costello knew nothing of the report ‘found’ on her table. The very fact she first denied its existence is the smoking gun of her duplicitous complicity.
Not privy to the minutiae of all the facts, it does seem strange that so much Government energy would be expended on "corrective" weakening of tobacco laws when there are so many far more urgent matters desperately in need of legislative change.
This still unfolding political drama is a result of most of our political parties refusing to credibly regulate the lobbying industry. Thanks Labour Party et al. Costello is just the latest ‘player’ sailing as close to the wind as she can get away with. If the heat gets too hot I.e. anything stronger than “self regulation” is legislated, she will find her ‘forever vocation’ where her skillset is appropriately recognised.
As much fun as it is to try to find the smoking gun behind the repeal of the last Government's legislation, maybe the truth is much simpler .... and is what Costello has been saying all along. That is, the last Government's legislation - as appealing to some as it appeared on paper - simply would not work in practice.
I suggest this for two reasons. (1) age based prohibitions have an extremely poor record. If you follow all the stories of underage drinking in NZ amongst teens, you will know what I mean. That form of age based prohibition has clearly failied - why would a tobacco one be any different? (2) Previous governments have engaged in a policy of excise tax incresases to effectively "price" tobacco off the market. This is a sensible approach to tobacco control - but it has led to burgeoning tobacco smuggling and black market regime. See https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018925185/significant-and-concerning-increase-in-illicit-tobacco-seizures. The rate of return on smuggling tobacco into NZ is extremely high - and the penalties are low as tobacco smuggling is seen by the courts as only a revenue evasion offence. Age based prohibition would only see this dymanic get worse.
In short, the previous Government's policy looked great to some on paper but was doomed to fail. National and NZ First have said so all along.
Public health "experts" loved the policy but didn't have to worry about its practicality or enforcement issues. So they just don't worry about it .... and therefore conclude the previous policy was a undoubted triumph of public policy. Even if it was doomed to fail.
Some of Costello's actions do seem odd ... but could also consistent with the actions of a new and green Minister. But that of itself doesn't make her a liar - as some are keen to asset or imply.
Maybe, when it comes to the last Government's legislation, she was simply just telling it as she saw it.
I thought we voted the last Labour govt out, to stop them deciding weather adults were allowed to smoke tobacco. Now I am hearing the last of the anti-smoking dinosaurs groaning in the corners, while the majority of us voters are getting on with our lives without govt over-reach. Maybe all you whining non-smokers should stay in your lane, and stop telling other adults what to do.
Another good critiquing of the failure by a minister of this government to be open and honest in the handling of such an important health issue in New Zealand. It is simply not credible that Costello knew nothing of the report ‘found’ on her table. The very fact she first denied its existence is the smoking gun of her duplicitous complicity.
Not privy to the minutiae of all the facts, it does seem strange that so much Government energy would be expended on "corrective" weakening of tobacco laws when there are so many far more urgent matters desperately in need of legislative change.
Despicable pointless beat-up. Find something real to criticise
This still unfolding political drama is a result of most of our political parties refusing to credibly regulate the lobbying industry. Thanks Labour Party et al. Costello is just the latest ‘player’ sailing as close to the wind as she can get away with. If the heat gets too hot I.e. anything stronger than “self regulation” is legislated, she will find her ‘forever vocation’ where her skillset is appropriately recognised.
As much fun as it is to try to find the smoking gun behind the repeal of the last Government's legislation, maybe the truth is much simpler .... and is what Costello has been saying all along. That is, the last Government's legislation - as appealing to some as it appeared on paper - simply would not work in practice.
I suggest this for two reasons. (1) age based prohibitions have an extremely poor record. If you follow all the stories of underage drinking in NZ amongst teens, you will know what I mean. That form of age based prohibition has clearly failied - why would a tobacco one be any different? (2) Previous governments have engaged in a policy of excise tax incresases to effectively "price" tobacco off the market. This is a sensible approach to tobacco control - but it has led to burgeoning tobacco smuggling and black market regime. See https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018925185/significant-and-concerning-increase-in-illicit-tobacco-seizures. The rate of return on smuggling tobacco into NZ is extremely high - and the penalties are low as tobacco smuggling is seen by the courts as only a revenue evasion offence. Age based prohibition would only see this dymanic get worse.
In short, the previous Government's policy looked great to some on paper but was doomed to fail. National and NZ First have said so all along.
Public health "experts" loved the policy but didn't have to worry about its practicality or enforcement issues. So they just don't worry about it .... and therefore conclude the previous policy was a undoubted triumph of public policy. Even if it was doomed to fail.
Some of Costello's actions do seem odd ... but could also consistent with the actions of a new and green Minister. But that of itself doesn't make her a liar - as some are keen to asset or imply.
Maybe, when it comes to the last Government's legislation, she was simply just telling it as she saw it.
I thought we voted the last Labour govt out, to stop them deciding weather adults were allowed to smoke tobacco. Now I am hearing the last of the anti-smoking dinosaurs groaning in the corners, while the majority of us voters are getting on with our lives without govt over-reach. Maybe all you whining non-smokers should stay in your lane, and stop telling other adults what to do.
Re black markets the first thing dairy and petrol station robbers go for is cigarettes so there must be some truth to it