The Coalition has been accused of secretly providing tobacco giants with a private platform in a parliamentary inquiry, a move that anti-smoking campaigners say undermines more than 15 years of precedent designed to protect public health.
Closed Session Evidence
On Monday, representatives from Philip Morris appeared before a Senate committee investigating the illegal tobacco trade in Australia. The committee, chaired by South Australian Liberal senator Leah Blyth, also heard from anti-smoking campaigners, health groups, and the Australian Border Force. However, Labor, the Greens, and the Australian Council on Smoking and Health raised concerns that executives from cigarette manufacturers were permitted to give evidence in a closed session in Canberra.
The committee published a full program for Monday's hearings but did not list evidence from Philip Morris or any other in camera session. Labor senator Jana Stewart and Greens senator Jordon Steele-John objected to the in camera evidence given by Philip Morris representatives on Monday afternoon.
Government and Health Experts React
Health Minister Mark Butler wrote to Blyth last Friday, reminding the committee of Australia's obligations under a World Health Organization agreement on tobacco control. This agreement requires public officials to protect health policy from interference by the tobacco industry and associated interests. Health Department guidance suggests that Australian public officials, including members of parliament, should only interact with tobacco industry executives and lobbyists when and to the extent strictly necessary to effectively regulate smoking, and that such interactions should be conducted transparently.
Butler stated in his letter to Blyth and Senate President Sue Lines, “I would strongly advise against the committee inviting representatives that undermine this obligation.”
Stewart told the hearing that efforts by public officials to be cautious about any kind of influence or advice from big tobacco companies were wise. Later, Steele-John confirmed the private hearing had taken place and promised to release a transcript of the evidence. He said in a public session, “We have just taken evidence in camera from Philip Morris. I shared with them during our exchanges my opposition to their presence in this inquiry as witnesses.”
Concerns from Health Advocates
Laura Hunter, chief executive of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health, expressed concern that individuals or organisations with links to the tobacco industry had been invited to participate in the inquiry. “We recognise the committee may wish to hear from a range of stakeholders, but the tobacco industry is not a neutral stakeholder. It is a commercial actor whose profits depend on the continued sale of a product that kills Australians every day – and whose interests are directly affected by the outcomes of this inquiry,” she said. Hunter added that the presence of individuals from big tobacco companies does not strengthen decision-making, “it compromises it.”
Guardian Australia has contacted Philip Morris and Blyth for comment.
Mark Brooke, chief executive of the Lung Foundation, told the hearing that tobacco companies have used obfuscation and denial of health harm for at least 50 years. “You only have to look at the tobacco companies giving evidence before the US Senate, denying lung cancer in the '60s and '70s to play it out. It's fair to say big tobacco says things like 'we want to un-smoke the world' but then challenges every meaningful attempt by governments, not just here in Australia but around the world, to cease production or sales of their products,” he said.
Jacinta Reddan, chief executive of Cancer Council Australia, noted that it has been 16 years since big tobacco had a platform in federal parliament. She pointed to the World Health Organization's framework convention on tobacco control, article 5.3, which is designed to stop interference in public health policy from cigarette and e-cigarette manufacturers. “We're very concerned that they were given that opportunity behind closed doors, away from the scrutiny of the Australian public,” Reddan said.
Assistant Minister for Customs Julian Hill called on Coalition senators to explain the secret hearing. “Australians should be shocked and outraged that today the committee chose to get secret evidence from big tobacco. They're quick to give comment when it suits them, and yet they want to skulk in in secret to a parliamentary inquiry when not,” he said.
