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celebratoryTopic: health
Liberals should stop taking donations from big tobacco
23-08-07
If the Liberal Party wants to be taken seriously when discussing the
health risks of smoking, they should donate the over $1 million dollars
they've received from Phillip Morris and British American Tobacco to
cancer research, Greens Senator for New South Wales Kerry Nettle said
today outside a Liberal party fundraiser hosted by the Federal Minister
for Ageing, Christopher Pyne in Sydney.
"Christopher Pyne cannot deliver an effective 'quit smoking' message
while his party continues to accept donations from big tobacco
companies," Senator Nettle said.
"Smoking is the single greatest cause of death and disease in Australia.
According to the 2001 National Drug Strategy Household Survey tobacco
use caused 19,000 deaths and 142,500 hospital episodes were attributed
to tobacco smoking.
"Australian Electoral Commission data shows that between 1998 & 2006 the
Liberal Party has received $697,065.00 from British American Tobacco and
$337,340.00 from Philip Morris.
"The Liberal Party should donate the over $1 million dollars they've
received from tobacco companies to cancer research," Senator Nettle
said.
"There is growing public disquiet about the millions of dollars
political parties receive to run their election campaigns particularly
tobacco companies.
"Today's $1200 a head lunch hosted by Christopher Pyne excludes all but
the top end of town from gaining access to the Howard Government",
Senator Nettle said.
Contact: Kristian Bolwell 0411638320
Posted by editor
at 6:03 PM NZT
Updated: Thursday, 23 August 2007 6:35 PM NZT
