AMA welcomes calls to end tobacco sponsorship of political parties
AMA President, Dr Bill Glasson today welcomes the calls for Australia's political parties to cease accepting donations from tobacco companies. Dr Glasson congratulates Opposition Leader, Mr Mark Latham and the Australian Labour Party for heeding the call and announcing today that they will no longer accept such donations.
The AMA calls on the Government to support the Private Members' Bill that proposes to reform the Electoral Act so that to receive public funding under the Act a political party must refuse donations from the tobacco industry.
Dr Glasson said: "Reform of the Act would both ensure a level playing field across parties and reduce the hypocrisy of the present situation. No doubt, it would also attract more ethical corporate donors."
Every year, about 19,000 Australians die from smoking related illnesses, and smoking is the largest cause of preventable deaths in Australia. The cost to the nation of smoking is
$21 billion per year.* Smoking causes far more harm than all illicit drugs combined.
Dr Glasson said: "It is difficult to ascertain exactly how much money political parties receive from the tobacco industry, as many donations are made through associated companies and organisations - but there is no doubt the sums are large.
"These donations are usually made as part of corporate social responsibility programs and are intended to sway policy in some way.
"While the Government, opposition and minor parties are committed to reducing smoking related diseases, the current arrangements put Ministers, Members and Senators in a position of potential hypocrisy.
"Other relevant areas of Australian law and health policy recognise tobacco as a lethal drug and most would agree that the human and financial costs of the tobacco industry outweigh any small gains for the parties.
"It is a horribly mixed message that is currently being sent out to the electorate. Tobacco sponsorship of political parties demonstrates an unfortunate double standard and a departure from public expectations."
The Bill will be debated in the first Private Members' Business day of 2004. The AMA calls on all political parties and all elected members to support the Bill.
*Source: Counting the cost: Estimates of the social cost of drug abuse in Australia 1998-99
CONTACT: Sarah Crichton, AMA Public Affairs (02) 6270 5472