The National Press Club presentations on July 22nd discussed the topic “Illicit tobacco – It is costing Australia heaps”.
The speakers raised a number of issues relevant to tobacco policy:
-have tobacco policies over the past decade been counter productive to reducing the harms associated with tobacco use?
-why have many countries been more successful in reducing tobacco rates and yet haven’t increased tobacco excise and has that policy driven people into the illicit tobacco black market?
-has tobacco policy increased the risks to the community whereby criminals expand their activities through violence, standover and intimidation?
-why are proven harm reduction approaches such as vaping not been more supported when the evidence suggest they are effective?
Three speakers addressed this issue of Australia’s failed approach to tobacco policy:
Rohan Pike – former AFP and Border Force agent
Mary Aldred – Federal Member for Monash
Dr Nick Coatsworth – Respiroty infectious diseases physician
Watch the address here: https://iview.abc.net.au/show/national-press-club-address/series/0/video/NC2611C026S00
The National Press Club is Australia’s most recognised forum, an icon chosen for major statements and for initiating change. Whether the issue of the day is political, economic, corporate, diplomatic, military or societal, the National Press Club plays a significant role in Australian Society.
Rohan Pike, Dr Nick Coatsworth and Mary Aldred
