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Political gain on tobacco unacceptable, says AMA Victoria & Quit
24 October 2007
The Australian Medical Association Victoria and Quit today called on all Victorian political parties and independent candidates to declare that they have not, and will not, accept donations from tobacco companies, employees of tobacco companies, or their agents.
In the lead-up to the federal election, further plans to tackle the scourge of smoking are conspicuously absent.
Dr Doug Travis, President, AMA Victoria, wonders if the thousands of dollars paid by tobacco lobbyists to political parties was part of the problem.
“Australians want tougher action on smoking,” Dr Travis said. “The economic, health and social arguments are overwhelming. It’s clear that Australians want their representatives to do more to stop thousands of needless deaths and the economic harm caused by smoking.
Quit’s Executive Director, Ms Fiona Sharkie called for greater transparency of political donations.
“Tobacco is unlike any other product on the Australian market in that it will kill the majority of lifetime users,” she said.
"Anyone would have to question, given the deadly nature of this product, whether tobacco donations translate to the tobacco industry having too much political influence.”
Dr Travis and Ms Sharkie are concerned that some of the reluctance of political candidates to take a stance against smoking is because tobacco companies and their lobbyists give thousands of dollars to political parties and candidates.
"Tobacco donations to political parties should raise an alarm for all Australians on whether governments will get tough on tobacco companies to address the devastating health damage caused by cigarette smoking," Dr Travis and Ms Sharkie said.
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