Health expert says govt's haste to repeal smokefree laws undemocratic

The co-chair of the Health Coalition Aotearoa has called the government's rapid repeal of the smokefree laws undemocratic.

The new government promised to repeal the Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Amendment Act 2022 within its first 100 days in power.

The act strives to reduce tobacco smoking rates through multiple means, one being the world-first law of banning people born after 2009 from buying tobacco products.

Co-chair and Professor Boyd Swinburn says the government has placed the repeal under urgency, deeming the process undemocratic.

"Under urgency means they just put it into Parliament and ram it through in just two or three sittings," Swinburn says.

"We don't get a chance to have a say and the public doesn't have a say.

"It's quite an undemocratic process to take."

Despite Pacific smoking dropping from 18.1 per cent to 6.4 per cent between 2021 and 2023, Pacific peoples have the second highest smoking rates after Māori.

They are also more likely to have negative health outcomes from smoking than non-Pacific and non-Māori.

"It's affecting the Pacific population," Swinburn says.

He says a Pacific voice telling the government and parties in power to not repeal the smokefree laws is vital.

"And if you're going to do it certainly don't do it under urgency.

"Give us a chance to have our say, this is a democracy.'"

A public poll from the Health Coalition revealed two-thirds of total participants, as well as 64 per cent of National voters, opposed repealing the current smokefree laws.

For NZ First and ACT participants, 44 per cent and 36 per cent opposed respectively.

Public poll results 2023. Photo/Health Coalition Aotearoa

Swinburn says the repeal is surprising considering parties currently in power did not campaign or mention it previously.

"This is not a popular move and why this government is doing it is a little opaque," he says.

Swinburn suspects the government's smokefree methodology has tobacco industry influence, evident in plans such as removing tax on cigarettes and legalising the sale of oral tobacco in NZ.

"The things they're trying to do in the smokefree arena you'll find are similar to what the tobacco industry has been calling for for years.

"This is straight from the tobacco industry playbook."

He says the Health Coalition is asking the government to send the bill to the select health committee.

"That will give people a chance to have a say on the bill.

"It will also give the government a chance to say why they're repealing this bill."

The request for a select health committee review is also backed by the Council of Medical Colleges in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Māori Medical Practitioners Association.

"That's most of the doctors and health organisations in the country," Swinburn says.

"It gives the government a chance to say what it's other smokefree plans will be.

"This is the democratic way to go."

Watch the full interview from 531pi's Facebook page below: