The Australian Coalition government has been accused of secretly allowing tobacco giant Philip Morris to give evidence before a parliamentary inquiry, a move that anti-smoking campaigners say undermines more than 15 years of precedent protecting public health.
The Senate committee, chaired by Liberal senator Leah Blyth, is considering the illegal tobacco trade. On Monday, Philip Morris representatives appeared in a closed-door session in Canberra, alongside anti-smoking campaigners, health groups and the Australian Border Force. However, the published agenda did not list the company’s appearance.
Labor senator Jana Stewart and Greens senator Jordon Steele-John objected to the private evidence. Health Minister Mark Butler wrote to Blyth last week, reminding her of Australia’s obligations under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which requires protection from tobacco industry interference.
Australian Council on Smoking and Health chief executive Laura Hunter said the industry was not a neutral stakeholder. “The tobacco industry is a commercial actor whose profits depend on the continued sale of a product that kills Australians every day,” she said.
Cancer Council Australia chief executive Jacinta Reddan noted it had been 16 years since big tobacco had a platform in federal parliament. “We’re very concerned that they were given that opportunity behind closed doors, away from the scrutiny of the Australian public,” she said.
