Questions over practicalities of Tasmania end-game

A parliamentary private member’s bill put forward in Tasmania, Australia, which would ban from 2018 the sale of tobacco products to people born after 2000, has been sent for scrutiny by a committee after doubts were raised about enforcement, according to an Examiner story relayed by the TMA.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson and Dr. Vanessa Goodwin, leader of the government in the Legislative Council, questioned the feasibility of enforcing the proposed regulations, which were the brainchild of independent MP Ivan Dean.

Goodwin said “we do not believe selective prohibition is the answer and maintain doubts about the efficacy of this particular proposal”.

And she was quoted as saying there were a number of concerns about practicality and enforcement that needed to be addressed if parliament were to proceed with passing the bill.

Dean said he was more than happy to send the bill for a short inquiry with tight terms of reference.