NZ in global media again for negative reasons. Luxon and Bishop lie about Smoke Free Regs.
Chris Luxon and Chris Bishop adamantly stated there would be only 1! tobacco shop in the whole of Northland, under the Smoke Free New Zealand law. (They are of course trying to argue that if just 1 there would be more reason for a black market or ram raids, and they want a reason to reverse the whole new regulation which is limiting stores from thousands to 600.) The government documents which they have clearly state there would be 35 such shops in Northland.
For the second time in just weeks NZ is on world stage for a horror tobacco-vape story involving a lax, arguably venal, government.
Our health for tax cuts story has raged like wild fire in headline stories internationally.
It is not just the Truss-type economics of NZ's unfunded tax cuts of the negative gearing nature, in a country with major infrastructure needs and poverty, and other serious economic problems, but paying for these by reversing the NZ Smoke Free Action Plan demonstrated to be able to save 1000s of lives, which is dropping collective jaws as the news spreads. The global media are amazed mainly because other countries, including the UK, are investing in this sound health and cost saving plan, helping to lower rates of lung cancer and other diseases.
The UK Tory government has only a handful of MPs, including Ms Truss, against it.
We were of course in the world news only a few weeks ago for having the 2nd highest vape rate.
Add to the tobacco furore here, because of predictable, evidence-based disease outcomes of reversing the legislation, the lying, this vaping statistic, the understating of vape risks, the lack of vape and nicotine quitting programmes, the clinical groups, school principals, parents, children at their wits ends pleading for better regulations, and now no mention of vapes in the 100 day Plan.
For tax cuts, and the tobacco vape industry.
It is like an Hieronymus Bosch painting.
(Photo from Wikipedia)
You may be keen to sign the petition, started by Karen Griffen, requesting the government to stop the repeal of the current Smoke Free legislation: