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Smokers subsidised $1 billion a year despite heavy tax

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Tue, 31 May 2016, 5:02AM
Canterbury DHB Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey says smokers are subsidised by the taxpayer for $1 billion a year (Getty Images)

Smokers subsidised $1 billion a year despite heavy tax

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Tue, 31 May 2016, 5:02AM

There's a mix of carrot and stick in the push to get smokers to kick the habit on World Smokefree Day today.

The Government has confirmed it's working on legislation to force tobacco into plain packaging, after the Australian government won a legal battle over a similar law.

LISTEN ABOVE: Professor Robert Beaglehole speaks with Mike Hosking about plain packaging

Moves had initially been put on hold while negotiations on the TPP were underway and a tobacco company took legal action against the Australian Government for its decision to introduce the approach.

MORE: Tariana Turia denies tobacco tax hikes are "racist"

The Prime Minister said it hasn't been signed off yet but advice he's received is that they should be able to proceed without the legal risks that had slowed them up.

"So I'm not sure how far away it is but it's getting much closer and we're keen to progress it."

Canterbury DHB Medical Officer of Health Dr Alistair Humphrey thinks the Government's commitment to ongoing tax hikes is a good way to tackle the problem.

"One of the things we need to remember is the health costs to New Zealand as a whole from smoking are approximately $2 billion a year."

MORE: Smokers hit hard in 2016 Budget

Humphrey said even with the latest tax increase we're raising only about $1 billion, so New Zealanders are still subsidising smokers.

Meanwhile, Palmerston North City Council is introducing a bylaw requiring bars and cafes with outdoor furniture to ditch the ash trays, and display a smokefree sign.

Canterbury DHB is urging smokers to give up the habit for the sake of children and family members, who are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Despite efforts for Christchurch to be smokefree by 2025, there's still a while to go.

Around 14% of people in the region are still smoking.

It's less than the national average, but still means about 62,000 Cantabrians are yet to kick the habit.

And the SPCA in Auckland is reminding pet owners that smoking near cats and dogs can dramatically increase their risk of developing cancer.

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