The last 24 hours or so have seen a lot of Government activity in the Tobacco related legislation. The Federal government in Australia mandated Plain packaging of Tobacco products to take effect in 2012, and the increase in Excise Tax by 25% effective from midnight 29 April 2010. The move to Plain Packaging was a surprise given the Senate Inquiry was underway with a report expected in August. The Inquiry had extended the consultation period in February. The issues are compounded with plain packaging, pa rticularly given the employee base in the C-Store and the reliance on visual cues by servers and customers. You will find a list of media activities on the website at both the AACS Media Page and also Latest News.
It’s possible that moves in New Zealand on Wednesday morning prompted the PM in Australia to act on excise taxes. New Zealand tobacco companies and retailers were caught by surprise on Wednesday by legislation pushing up the average cost of a packet of 25s by $1.10 and by plans to continue the increases by nearly $5 a packet – or 30 per cent – by 2012. A packet of 20 will then cost more than $14 and 25s more than $17. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3635577/Smokers-whacked-in-wallet
The Queensland Government announced the introduction of Retail Display Bans http://www.cabinet.qld.gov.au/mms/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=69544 to take effect in mid 2011.