AACS Talking Point

Jeff Rogut
Executive Director AACS

The former federal health Minister, Nicola Roxon made the following observation over the past weekend:

Plain packs won’t hit ciggie sales soon 12:41 AEST Sun Aug 5 2012 Channel 9
Plain packaging isn’t going to see cigarette sales drop off any time soon, former federal health minister Nicola Roxon says. In fact, forward estimates in the budget predict that, if anything, sales will increase over the next few years.

But the plain packaging war is a long game, Attorney-General Roxon says.
“We’ve been very clear – we haven’t made any estimates about the level of reduction that will flow from plain packaging,” she told Sky News on Sunday.
“We think this change will have a long-term impact, particularly in putting off new smokers and young smokers.
“It might make them think again, but the truth is it’s about not reaching out and making it glamorous for young new smokers in particular.”

Despite acknowledgement that this is not a short term fix, to date the Government appears to still not heed calls from retailers for a more reasonable implementation time frame for plain packaging. It is now August and there has still been no communication to retailers about the implementation due to commence from December 1st 2012. Severe penalites may be enforced from that date.

AACS has consistently called for an extension of time until the end of March 2013 to allow retailers to clear stocks of the old branded packs. This call appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

I would encourage all retailers and those affected to call or write to their local Members to address this issue. After all, Convenience retailers play a major part in their local community, are employers of a substantial number of staff …….. and they all vote.