Tobacco fighters getting anxious

By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter

Anti-smoking lobbyists believe that the Government has gone cold on suing tobacco companies.

"Every time we contact them, it's, 'We're still working with the Australians'," said Trish Fraser, director of Action on Smoking and Health (Ash).

"It appears there's nothing happening. They have just given up on it."

Ms Fraser, who is writing to the Prime Minister's office to express concern, said anti-smoking groups wanted to revive the issue.

A spokesman for Attorney-General Margaret Wilson said yesterday that joint legal action with Australian state Governments against the companies was a complicated issue and officials were still investigating it.

Meanwhile, help is on the way for some of the thousands of smokers turned away by the Quitline when they telephoned wanting vouchers for subsidised nicotine-replacement patches and gum.

The Quitline has been unable to keep up with the demand for the Government-subsidised therapy, on offer since November 1.

It has begun telling people to call back in a month and, with extra staff being appointed, expects to clear the backlog by January.

The Ministry of Health said yesterday that the scheme would be expanded by allowing doctors and some other health workers to distribute vouchers, which smokers can swap for gum and nicotine-replacement patches at pharmacies.

The vouchers would be available from some approved providers by the middle of next month.

But the ministry could not say when quitters would be able to swap their vouchers, called "exchange cards," for gum and patches from supermarkets.

The price of a 20-pack of cigarettes is expected to rise about 30c tomorrow as a result of the Government's automatic lift in excise in line with the consumers price index.

That follows the $1 rise sprung on smokers in May with a tax increase.