Contribution to Book
The Tobacco Endgame Avengers: Strategies for a Smokefree Future in Australia
Australian Public Health Law: Contemporary Issues and Challenges
(2023)
Abstract
This chapter explores contemporary issues and challenges in respect of tobacco control in Australia. It considers the role of Australia as a pathfinder in respect of developing and defending pioneering public health laws and regulations, which have then been adopted and adapted elsewhere around the world. This chapter examines the successful introduction and defence of plain packaging of tobacco products in the High Court of Australia. It highlights the ramifications of this decision for other fields of public health. This chapter considers the need to update tobacco control regulation to deal with social media and digital communication. It explores the challenges to tobacco advertising regulations posed by tobacco companies and e-cigarette companies in respect of the use of social media and Internet influencers. This chapter examines and evaluates the prospect of tobacco-endgame strategies. In particular, it looks at the T21 proposal in Tasmania, and spatial limitations and restrictions on smoking in Queensland. This chapter explores civil litigation against tobacco companies in Australia, and highlights the vulnerability of e-cigarette companies to legal action. It also investigates the potential of criminal liability for tobacco companies in Australia. This chapter considers the campaign for tobacco divestment, and the persistent problem of tobacco interference in policy-making in Australia. It concludes with the recommendation that Australia should pursue a tobacco endgame policy – much like its neighbour, New Zealand.
Keywords
- tobacco control,
- tobacco endgame,
- plain packaging of tobacco products,
- public health,
- tobacco litigation,
- tobacco divestment,
- tobacco interference,
- tobacco advertising,
- quit smoking
Disciplines
Publication Date
April 1, 2023
Editor
Belinda Bennett and Ian Freckelton
Publisher
Federation Press
Citation Information
Matthew Rimmer, 'The Tobacco Endgame Avengers: Strategies for a Smokefree Future in Australia' in Belinda Bennett and Ian Freckelton (ed.), Australian Public Health Law: Contemporary Issues and Challenges, Sydney: Federation Press, 2023, 361-385.