Latest news with #Bullen
Scoop
5 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
PM Must Act To End Tobacco Industry Interference In His Government
Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to show leadership and strip NZ First of the tobacco and vaping portfolio, following damning revelations of collusion between NZ First and tobacco giant Philip Morris. A detailed RNZ investigation uncovered documents showing Philip Morris provided NZ First with a draft piece of regulation which the Deputy Prime Minister at the time Winston Peters supported. Winston Peters was described by JUUL representatives as "industry friendly and highly geared towards commercial interests." NZ First reportedly assured Philip Morris they would "put that draft into the policy mix." The World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which New Zealand signed in 2005, explicitly warns of the "irreconcilable conflict" between the goals of public health and the interests of the tobacco industry. Under this treaty, governments must protect health policy from tobacco industry interference. "By allowing tobacco industry influence, this Government is breaching its obligations under the World Health Organization convention, says Professor Chris Bullen, Health Coalition Aotearoa tobacco spokesperson and University of Auckland professor. "These documents confirm what many have long feared: tobacco companies are influencing health policy in Aotearoa. The Prime Minister must demonstrate he expects the highest standards of integrity from his Ministers and reallocate the tobacco and vaping portfolio," says Professor Bullen. Tobacco companies' intensive and covert lobbying comes as no surprise. However, evidence NZ First MPs have been complicit in these arrangements will shock the public, who expect higher standards from politicians. The evidence in the media today gives an explicit example of how officials are exposed to communications, meetings and relationships with a powerful industry on policy that is supposed to be protecting public health. And yet another example of this Government favouring commercial interests over people's lives and health. Winston Peters told reporters yesterday "I've always been industry friendly". Matching rhetoric of NZ First Minister Shane Jones last year confirmed Philip Morris External Relations Manager Api Dawson was involved in 'soundings' about the party's tobacco policy. Professor Bullen says the revelations offer Luxon a clear opportunity to put New Zealanders' health ahead of dirty politics. "This is a test of leadership. He must reassign the tobacco and vaping portfolio to someone with no ties to the industry. New Zealanders expect transparency and a Government that acts with integrity. "The Government has already damaged Aotearoa New Zealand's international standing by repealing popular, widely acclaimed smokefree measures - a move that has seen a stall in the decline of smoking prevalence, while inequities persist. "The RNZ revelations show serious lack of judgement by this Government. It must end now. We are spending billions treating preventable diseases caused by smoking, while politicians allow the industry to keep selling the products that cause these harms. It's reckless and it's wrong," says Professor Bullen. Health Coalition Aotearoa is calling for: Immediate reassignment of the tobacco and vaping portfolio from NZ First to a politician free of any ties to the industry, and who will prioritise New Zealanders' health over corporate profits. The Ministry of Health to exclude the nicotine industry from policy processes, interact only when necessary, and document all interactions in alignment with the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, to which Aotearoa is a Party. Stronger rules on lobbying and conflicts of interest across government. Health Coalition Aotearoa is running a campaign to mitigate the harmful impact of industry involvement in public health policy. The Government to prioritise the advice and expertise of those working to reduce tobacco and nicotine harm when changing tobacco policies. "All the current Government's coalition parties have links to the tobacco industry. That must end," said Professor Bullen. "The Prime Minister has a choice: run a government based on integrity or stoop to a new level of dirty politics. He must act now."
Business Insider
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Amplitude Energy (COPJF) Receives a Buy from Canaccord Genuity
In a report released on July 17, James Bullen from Canaccord Genuity maintained a Buy rating on Amplitude Energy, with a price target of A$0.34. The company's shares closed last Friday at $0.14. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. According to TipRanks, Bullen is a 2-star analyst with an average return of 0.8% and a 44.09% success rate. Bullen covers the Energy sector, focusing on stocks such as Amplitude Energy, Paladin Energy Ltd, and Bannerman Energy. Amplitude Energy has an analyst consensus of Strong Buy, with a price target consensus of $0.20, a 46.25% upside from current levels. In a report released on July 17, Macquarie also maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a A$0.38 price target.
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida baseball loses catcher Cole Bullen to NCAA transfer portal
Florida baseball loses catcher Cole Bullen to NCAA transfer portal The exodus continues for Florida baseball after the conclusion of its 2025 campaign, with rising redshirt senior catcher Cole Bullen departing the program through the NCAA transfer portal. Having arrived in Gainesville via the collegiate version of free agency prior to last season, the 5-foot-9-inch receiver did not appear in any games for the Gators this spring. The native of Bellview, Florida, had previously played three years at the JUCO level with the College of Central Florida Patriots. Bullen appeared in 95 games as the primary starting catcher for the Patriots from 2023-24 and slashed .306/.431/.460 in 291 at-bats, amassing 89 hits, 14 doubles, two triples, nine homers, 77 RBI, 70 runs and three steals. During his redshirt sophomore campaign alone, he batted .315/.448/.500 with four home runs and 10 doubles over a 44-game stretch. Behind the dish, Bullen finished with a collegiate career .984 fielding percentage across 731 chances while throwing out 25 would-be base-stealers in 91 attempts for a 27.5% caught-stealing rate. He is the sixth member of the Orange and Blue to hit the transfer portal so far. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Kiwiblog
29-05-2025
- Health
- Kiwiblog
So much wrong in one article
Radio NZ reports: More than 80,000 Kiwis must quit smoking before the end of the year to meet the goal of Smokefree 2025, which was launched 14 years ago. But Professor of Public Health Chris Bullen tells The Detail that it is unlikely to happen – 'I don't believe so, sadly. 'The evidence suggests we are not heading in the right direction fast enough,' says Bullen, who is also the director of the National Institute for Health Innovation. 'We have got more work to do in 2026 and beyond.' The smokefree goal aims to have less than 5 percent of the population smoking by December, but the latest data reveals there are still about 300,000 daily smokers across the country. The daily smoking rate has dropped from 16.4% to 6.9% since 2011, which is a huge reduction. It is correct that it is unlikely to drop 1.9% in one year, as those remaining are a small but persistent hardcore. Bullen says part of the issue is, last year, the coalition government repealed three areas of the Smokefree law, most importantly the denicotinisation of tobacco products (where the nicotine is basically taken out of cigarettes) and banning the sale of tobacco products to those born after 1 January 2009. 'I think we could have gotten to the goal under the previous legislation, but that was repealed by the current government. This is just nonsense, and we know it is because look at when these provisions were to come into force. The ban (which would not have worked) to those born after 1 January 2009 would not take effect until 2027, so claiming it would help you make a 2025 target is embarrassing. A tobacco industry-funded report has just revealed that 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market, smuggled into the country, largely from China and South Korea, and available on Facebook Marketplace, at construction sites, and in some dairies. Black market cigarettes are about half the price of legal packets, which can cost up to $45. But Bullen is not convinced the percentage of illegal sales is as high as reported. He says it is more likely around the 10-15 percent mark. He believes the tobacco industry inflates the number – and the problem – to 'encourage the government to ease up on being tough on their product'. Here Professor Bullen has an opinion that the black market is not as high as as reported, but with not any proof or data to back his view. One source of data is government excise revenue on tobacco. For the year to March 2025 it was $1.49b and in March 2023 it was $1.81b. So it has dropped 18% despite the rate going up and no reported change in smoking rates in this period. New research, which overlays vape stores on school locations, shows 44 percent of schools have a vape store within a one-kilometre radius This old chestnut. There is almost no area in urban New Zealand that is not within a 1 kms radius of a school. That is a 314 hectare circle. We have 2,500 schools. Since 2020, it has been illegal to sell vapes to people under 18, but students as young as 10 and 11 are vaping across New Zealand today. Yet he is convinced prohibition works!
Newsroom
13-05-2025
- Health
- Newsroom
Smokefree 2025 goal all but up in smoke
More than 80,000 Kiwis must quit smoking before the end of the year to meet the goal of Smokefree 2025, which was launched 14 years ago. But Professor of Public Health Chris Bullen tells The Detail it is unlikely to happen – 'I don't believe so, sadly'. 'The evidence suggests we are not heading in the right direction fast enough,' says Bullen, who is also the director of the National Institute for Health Innovation. 'We have got more work to do in 2026 and beyond.' The smokefree goal aims to have less than 5 percent of the population smoking by December, but the latest data reveals there are still about 300,000 daily smokers across the country. Bullen says part of the issue is, last year, the coalition government repealed three areas of the Smokefree law, most importantly the de-nicotinisation of tobacco products (where the nicotine is basically taken out of cigarettes) and banning the sale of tobacco products to those born after January 1, 2009. 'I think we could have gotten to the goal under the previous legislation, but that was repealed by the current Government. 'The lack of policies to support and motivate more people to think about quitting means there's an awful lot of effort on the ground that's got to go on to get 84, 85 thousand people to quit smoking between now and the end of the year and I just don't see it happening fast enough.' He says the denicotinisation strategy needs to be revisited, and a smoke-free generation approach needs to be adopted to encourage young people not to start smoking. 'Other countries picked up the baton when we dropped it, and I think that would lock in the very low levels of smoking in our young people, forever, and this would be a real boost for their future prospects.' The Detail also speaks to Bullen about illegal tobacco and vaping, and the role they play in Smokefree Aotearoa. A tobacco industry-funded report shows that 25 percent of cigarettes sold in New Zealand are from the black market, smuggled into the country, largely from China and South Korea, and available on Facebook Marketplace, at construction sites, and in some dairies. Black market cigarettes are about half the price of legal packets, which can cost up to $45. But Bullen is not convinced the percentage of illegal sales is as high as reported. He says it's more likely around the 10 to 15 percent mark. He believes the tobacco industry inflates the number – and the problem – to 'encourage the Government to ease up on being tough on their product'. 'Regardless, whatever kind of tobacco it is, it's dangerous,' says Bullen. Another growing addiction for New Zealanders is vaping, and new research from Auckland University has revealed almost half of schools across the country have a specialist vape store within a 10-minute walk, despite recent legislation aimed at preventing this. New research, which overlays vape stores on school locations, shows 44 percent of schools have a vape store within a 1km radius and 13 percent have a dedicated store within 300m. 'That means a lot of our young people are getting multiple exposures daily to vape stores and vape marketing,' he says. 'We know that association with visibility is important in normalising and making these products more acceptable. 'It's not good enough; we need to get tougher on the vast number of vape stores we have, they are way too accessible in New Zealand. 'We should continue to demand that the Government restrict the general vaping retailers. We don't need as many.' Since 2020, it has been illegal to sell vapes to people under 18, but students as young as 10 and 11 are vaping across New Zealand today. 'Probably, these young kids are getting them from their siblings, or from friends on the school ground who are operating like drug dealers, if you like – they are distributors. 'And they are getting them from their favourite store or on the internet, where you just click a box to say you are 18 or over, and bingo, and you have a delivery on its way, if you can hide that from your parents.' Bullen says across the board, more work has to be done with smoking, illegal cigarettes, and vaping in New Zealand. 'The sooner we can control tobacco, the better; then we have these other issues to work on. It's a bit like whack-a-mole, you just get on top of one thing, and another thing pops up.' Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here. You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter.
