I was genuinely shocked by the revelation this week that the Liberal and National Party are in receipt of huge funds from British American Tobacco.
Smoking is one of the four big destructive influences on our health (smoking diet alcohol traffic accidents) that we can do something about locally.
The British America Tobacco website says its internal policy for funding to countries is for influencing the debate on tobacco issues affecting the country.
British America Tobacco’s own policy on donations makes clear they “can only be made for the purpose of influencing the debate on issues affecting the company and not to achieve any improper business or other advantage”.
The Liberal and National parties deny this has any influence but the donors say that’s the only reason they can actually make a donation.
Labor and the Greens already have imposed their own bans but the Liberal and Nationals continue to take money from tobacco companies.
British American Tobacco made worldwide donations to only 3 countries in 2010 and Australia got 97% of it:
$1550 – Canada
$3000 – Solomon Islands
$170000 – Australia to the Liberal and National Party.
Both our Federal MPs are LNP – Jane Prentice and Peter Dutton. Peter Dutton is the Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing.
What does he think of his party receiving money to influence Australia’s smoking policy?