And further more...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-10/chapman-big-tobaccos-claims-go-up-in-smoke/5511288

"It is difficult to know where to begin to point out the sheer cant and hypocrisy in all of this....."

"In fact, Treasury data shows the tax impact was even worse for the industry. A 2013 Treasury paper shows that this increase reduced apparent consumption of dutied tobacco products by 11 per cent, nearly twice the 6 per cent that had been predicted.

The reason BAT are parading this turbocharged palpable nonsense is that the twin horsemen of their apocalypse, tax increases and plain packaging, are together driving both total consumption and demand for cheaper cigarettes down like never before.

Precisely what was intended."

Etc....

SR,

Now you are just being silly.

All reports carry the journalist's opinion and bias to some extent. The question is what defines a report from an opinion piece.

Generally opinion pieces give commentary on existing information rather than reporting new information. (clearly this carried new information) Secondly the newspaper generally flags the article as an opinion piece. (Which if you look on the Australian website under opinion pieces it does not appear)

Secondly, whilst after seeing the ABS data, I have not allocated absolute belief in the Australian article, rather balance of probability based on practices at the Aus and knowledge of the vagaries of collecting statistics. I do however, acknowledge that I may be wrong.

You however, seem to be exhibiting the religious fervour and unquestioning belief that you accuse me of in the 100% accuracy of the ABS statistics.

The test of good policy formulation is whether the assumptions underlying the policy have some evidence of effectiveness, which this policy did not, for which it was justly criticised.

The test of good policy outcomes is whether the outcomes are better than if the policy were not implemented. Given that prior to the implementation of the policy smoking rates were dropping approximately at 4% p.a. the ABS figures (6% drop in 18 months) at best show that the policy was outcome neutral.

What do the ABS numbers say about smoking and Aborigines? Smoking and other drug use, for example alcohol, are strongly implicated as causes of poor indigenous health.

Is it possible that the impediments to Aborigines quitting smoking (and not abusing alcohol and illicit drugs) are identical to those affecting the lower socio-economic groups who similarly abuse tobacco, booze and drugs?

While I might be led to believe that plain packaging could make it more difficult for advertisers, my concern is that policy should be based on evidence and sufficient compelling evidence at that and that value for money should be proved for the expenditure of those millions of taxpayers' $$ on plain packaging.

I am yet to be convinced that the Gillard Labor government wasn't just using 'Big Tobacco' and plain packaging as a useful diversion to occupy the media and the chattering masses. However, leaving that to one side, I am also unconvinced that any future gains - which will be very hard won - are best pursued or coordinated by a special anti-smoking outfit.

It is yet another area where the contributing causes are complex. It should be handled by a federal department like Health. There are far too many qangos, NGOs and individual consultants and experts swinging from the guvvy teat and that is never good for any deeper understanding of contributing causes and later coordination of solutions.

I think they should ban smokes all together, That way they can then tax the hell out of alcohol as a reimbursement on the lost taxes caused by the ban on cigarettes !I think alcohol bottles should be all plainly marked with photos of beaten wife's, hungry kids, car accident victims,throat cancer, bladder cancer etc etc,,,,,,,

The fag companies can't be doing all that well. BATA has closed its Pagewood plant in Sydney, which was on the old Holden car manufacturing site, and its now being developed as apartments.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/meriton-apartments-purchases-bata-site-to-transform-it-into-new-village-hub/story-fngr8h22-1226720092285

A development local Greens fully supported, and work is well underway, goodby fags, hallo people.

It took the medical profession from the 1960s to the
present era to get the public, and the governments
we elect, to act on the toxic, life-taking efforts of
tobacco. Eventually sanity prevailed, although it
took over 40 years. If plain packaging can contribute
to even saving one life - surely it was worth doing.

Here is a link from the Cancer Council of Victoria
on plain packaging - the facts.

http://www.cancervic.org.au/plainfacts/