The Government is facing more heat over its tobacco policies with yet another legal challenge about to be filed against the scrapping of smokefree law changes.
The previous Labour government change would have slashed the number of cigarette retailers to just 600, with a ban on the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 - effectively raising the legal smoking age each year.
But the latest Waitangi Tribunal claim by Beverly Te Huia has accused the coalition of supporting a repeal it knows will result in thousands of Māori deaths.
"In simple terms, the coalition government knows that people will absolutely die as a direct result of the repeal, but will proceed nonetheless," the claim reads.
This is the sixth claim challenging the Government's policies in three months.
A study published in January last year suggested that between now and 2040, the new restrictions on smoking would have saved 8000 lives, with 40% of them being Māori.
It also suggested Māori smoking rates would be reduced from 32.8% to 7.3%, with non-Māori smoking rates falling from 11.8% to 2.7% in the same time frame.
Associate Health Minister Casey Costello declined to be interviewed by 1News about the case, saying, "it’s not appropriate to talk about the claim while it is before the Tribunal."
She says she doesn't know who wrote a note asking for advice on freezing the tobacco excise tax. The opposition is now calling for her to be sacked. (Source: 1News)
However, in a statement, she said the Government remained "committed to the Smokefree targets and reducing the harm from smoking.
"In the last five years, New Zealand’s smoking rates have halved, and we want to continue that progress and build on what’s worked.
"That means having access to less harmful alternatives like vaping and other products, and education and cessation programmes. It’s also important that what we do is targeted at the individual smokers who need help to quit,” Costello said.
Next steps for claim
After the claim has been filed, the Crown will get an opportunity to formally respond, before the Waitangi Tribunal can decide whether or not the claim meets the exceptional circumstances required to be granted an urgent hearing.
This is the second claim against the coalition government's rollback of smokefree law changes. An entirely separate claim by Te Rōpū Tupeka Kore, a coalition of smokefree advocates, has already been filed.
However, both parties may be running out of time as the policy repeal is part of the Government's 100-day plan. If the Waitangi Tribunal decides to grant an urgent hearing, then it will need to happen over the next one or two months.
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