Coalition accused of secretly giving big tobacco lobbyists private platform in parliament

Anti-smoking campaigners have accused the Coalition of secretly giving tobacco giants access to a parliamentary inquiry, a move they say undermines more than 15 years of precedent to protect public health.

On Monday, representatives from tobacco company Philip Morris appeared before a Senate committee considering the illegal tobacco trade in Australia. Chaired by South Australian Liberal senator Leah Blyth, the committee also heard from anti-smoking campaigners, health groups and Australian Border Force, but Labor, the Greens and the Australian Council on Smoking and Health raised concerns that executives from cigarette manufacturers were allowed to give evidence in a closed session in Canberra.

The committee published a full program for Monday’s hearings, but did not list evidence from Philip Morris or any other “in camera” – or private – session.

Labor senator Jana Stewart and Greens senator Jordon Steele-John objected to the in-camera evidence by representatives of Philip Morris on Monday afternoon. The health minister, Mark Butler, wrote to Blyth on Friday last week, reminding the committee of Australia’s obligations under a World Health Organization agreement on tobacco control, which requires public officials to protect health policy from interference from the tobacco industry and associated interests.

Health Department guidance suggests Australian public officials, including members of parliament, should only interact with executives and lobbyists from tobacco manufacturers “when and to the extent strictly necessary” to effectively regulate smoking. Steele-John confirmed the private hearing had taken place and promised to release a transcript of the evidence, saying in a public session that “We have just taken evidence in camera from Philip Morris. I shared with them during our exchanges my opposition to their presence in this inquiry as witnesses.”

Australian Council on Smoking and Health chief executive, Laura Hunter, said she was “concerned that individuals or organizations with links to the tobacco industry have been invited to participate in this inquiry”. While she recognizes the committee may wish to hear from a range of stakeholders, the tobacco industry is not a neutral one, as it is a commercial actor whose profits depend on the continued sale of a product that kills Australians every day – and whose interests are directly affected by the outcomes of this inquiry.