Mr Blonde
Bluelighter
^ Something intelligence, you do not like to smoke these?
West Australian Federal MP Tony Crook has accused tobacco companies of recruiting people to call MPs anonymously and criticise proposed plain packaging laws.
The tobacco industry has vowed to fight proposed laws which would force them to sell cigarettes in plain packs with a large, graphic health warning, while a second bill will remove company trademarks from the packs.
Tony Crook says his office has received regular phone calls from people expressing anger over the plan.
The Nationals Member for O'Connor says he suspects the callers have been coached, because they always raise the same issues.
He says tobacco companies are intentionally trying to mislead people.
"Quite often when we've been speaking to people and talking to them about the issues they've actually agreed with us on many of the occasions, which is really quite interesting," he said.
Last week Health Minister Nicola Roxon introduced the plain packaging legislation for cigarettes into Parliament and said the Government would defend it from any legal threats.
The tobacco industry is warning of several legal challenges to the legislation in a move it says could cost the Government billions of dollars.
Tobacco giant Philip Morris is among the companies taking legal action over the laws.
It is accusing the Government of breaching a bilateral investment treaty with Hong Kong, where the company is based.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has said the Coalition will not oppose the legislation but may attempt to make amendments to ensure smoking rates really do drop.
^ So standard price for a pack of tailors these days? Maybe I'll get them as a special treat for my opioid vacation nights.![]()