Latest news with #TobaccoTransparencyBill
Scoop
12-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Signs Of Progress In Tobacco Control Sector: New Bill And Council Action Offer Hope
Amid recent setbacks in New Zealand's Smokefree efforts, two new developments bring fresh momentum to tobacco harm reduction that have renewed hope in our goals for a healthier Aotearoa. Health spokesperson Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall has launched the Tobacco Transparency Bill, aimed at stopping tobacco industry lobbying in health policy. "Around the world, tobacco companies have a long history of influencing and weakening health policies to better suit their bottom line. This Bill will address those influences and help us protect people's health…," said Dr Verrall.[1] This Bill follows growing calls for stronger lobbying regulations in New Zealand politics. There is a pressing need for greater transparency and accountability, especially among those whose decisions directly impact public health outcomes. If passed, the Tobacco Transparency Bill would help the government understand its duties under international law and could lead to stronger rules around emerging nicotine products. Similarly, Far North District Council votes to develop a Smokefree/Vapefree policy for public spaces. The council's decision follows a new study linking vaping to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), adding urgency to calls for regulation.[2] These developments offer timely encouragement for Smokefree and Vapefree advocates across Aotearoa as we mark World Smokefree May. Jasmine Graham, National Tobacco Control Manager at Hāpai te Hauora says, "While major challenges remain, these steps offer hope that momentum toward a healthier, smokefree Aotearoa is not lost." Notes: [2] "Far North Council Moves to Adopt Smokefree and Vape-free Policy," NZ Herald, last modified May 8, 2025,
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Bill A Vital Step Towards Tobacco-Free Future In Aotearoa
Health Coalition Aotearoa strongly supports Dr Ayesha Verrall's new Tobacco Transparency Bill, launched this week, which - if supported by a majority of MPs - will help protect public health policy from tobacco industry interference and honour New Zealand's international commitments. This landmark legislation gives real force to Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-an agreement New Zealand signed over two decades ago but has never been properly embedded into law. "The tobacco industry thrives in the shadows. This Bill brings in sunlight," said Professor Chris Bullen of Health Coalition Aotearoa. "It sets clear rules for how government agencies and officials must engage with tobacco companies and helps close the door to backroom lobbying." The Bill would amend the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act to: Prohibit the Government from supporting or endorsing the interests of the tobacco industry Require the Prime Minister to issue guidance to Ministers on their interactions with tobacco industry players Direct the Minister of Health to provide similar guidance to public servants Require the Public Service Commissioner to issue conduct standards for officials Impose a six-month stand-down period before officials involved in tobacco policy can work for the industry. Crucially, the Bill also compels the tobacco industry to report on lobbying, marketing, sponsorships, hospitality, donations, social media deals, and corporate philanthropy-practices it has long used to undermine health laws. "This is world-leading transparency," said Professor Bullen. "No other country has gone this far in requiring the tobacco industry to declare how it seeks to influence decision-makers. That alone will help deter interference." Aotearoa New Zealand's tobacco control policy has come under increasing attack in recent months, with life-saving legislation repealed and no safeguards in place to stop it. This Bill promises to change that. If supported, it will ensure all public servants understand their obligations under international law, and it opens the door to extending protections to cover emerging nicotine industries as well. "New Zealand once led the world with its Smokefree 2025 goal," Professor Bullen. "This Bill would put us back on track. It's a hopeful step forward-one that puts people's health ahead of industry profits."
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Tobacco Transparency Bill ‘will benefit all'
Aspire Aotearoa Research Centre co-director Professor Janet Hoek. PHOTO: SUPPLIED When the government repealed smokefree legislation last year, questions were raised in the health and research sectors about why it was done, and if parties in the coalition government benefited from it. Opposition health spokeswoman Dr Ayesha Verrall's new Tobacco Transparency Bill, launched yesterday, aims to increase transparency, improve policy making, and stop the government from supporting, endorsing or advocating for the tobacco industry's interests. University of Otago researcher and Aspire Aotearoa co-director Prof Janet Hoek said the Bill was long overdue. "What the Bill is trying to do is to bring to light the evidence that would enable us to find out whether the [coalition] parties were benefiting from it. "At the moment, we don't know." The Bill was partly inspired by the actions of Associate Health Minister Casey Costello, who led the repeal of the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022. It effectively scrapped laws aimed at slashing tobacco retailers from 6000 to 600, removing 95% of the nicotine from cigarettes and creating a smokefree generation by banning sales to those born after 2009. Prof Hoek and Radio New Zealand sought information under the Official Information Act (OIA) to see what justification the ministry used to repeal the Act. Initially, Ms Costello refused to release any documents, citing a clause in the OIA legislation protecting confidential advice tendered by ministers and officials. So Prof Hoek and RNZ referred their OIA requests to chief ombudsman Peter Boshier, who ordered Ms Costello to release the information. Prof Hoek said they eventually received "a flood" of emails and documents, which had been heavily redacted by the ministry. "It's very difficult when a lot of the material is being heavily redacted because obviously you don't know what you don't know and it makes it difficult to undertake any kind of rigorous analysis. "All we do know is that we've seen a move towards decisions that align with the tobacco industry's interests. "And that's not just the repeal of the smokefree measures. "There were tax reductions on heated tobacco products, and there have been proposals to introduce oral nicotine products, which the tobacco industry has been pushing." Prof Hoek said it left many in the health and research sectors asking questions. "Does this new direction align with the research evidence? The answer to that is no. "Does it follow the expert advice from the Ministry of Health or from people like me working in the area? The answer to that is no. "Is there really resounding public support for this new direction of travel? Again, the answer to that is quite clearly no. "You end up thinking, who is going to benefit from these decisions and I think that's where you inevitably have to start considering the tobacco industry and what influence they've had." Under the Tobacco Transparency Bill, the prime minister would have to issue policies requiring ministers to declare any interests they have in tobacco companies; the minister of health would provide guidance for public officials explaining the potential for tobacco industry influence; and the public service commissioner would set standards for officials involved in developing tobacco control policies. Prof Hoek said the Bill would stop the government from supporting, endorsing or advocating for the tobacco industry's interests, and promote stronger compliance with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which calls on parties to protect "policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry". The Bill would also prevent people with interests in the tobacco industry from working on tobacco policy, and limit officials' ability to move directly from government roles to positions in tobacco companies. "If politicians have got nothing to hide, that would be really obvious, and I think the net effect would be that some of the trust that's been lost in the government could potentially be regained. "The repeal of measures that would have seen New Zealand realise the Smokefree 2025 goal appalled the public health community. "This Bill will protect policies that promote wellbeing and equity, and that will benefit all New Zealanders," she said.
Scoop
08-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Bill Launched To Stop Tobacco Industry Lobbying
Labour is launching a members' bill to stop the Government from putting tobacco industry interests ahead of public health. 'The Tobacco Transparency Bill will strengthen the law surrounding tobacco industry lobbying, to ensure tobacco profits are never put ahead of New Zealander's health,' Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. 'This Bill aims to prohibit government support for the tobacco industry and requires transparency around tobacco lobbying. 'Around the world, tobacco companies have a long history of influencing and weakening health policies to better suit their bottom line. 'This Bill will address those influences, and help us protect people's health by meeting the obligations we've signed up to under the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. 'One of those obligations is to protect tobacco policy from 'commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry'. 'New Zealand's 2025 smokefree goal is at risk and we need to be doing everything we can to meet it, to save lives, and keep people healthy and out of hospital. 'Our world-leading smokefree laws were scrapped by the National Government and smoking rates in New Zealand have risen for the first time in over a decade. 'It's time we get rid of the smokescreen and protect Kiwis from big tobacco's lobbying tactics – they have no place in health policy,' Ayesha Verrall said.
