Turia wants tax rise to make tobacco too dear for young

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia says she plans to ask ministers in the next month for a tax increase that will make cigarettes too expensive for young people to buy.

She told Auckland Cancer Society chief executive John Loof at a conference yesterday that she had been asked to postpone a proposal for the tax increase, and for restricting tobacco displays in shops, but had refused.

"I have been asked to delay those pieces of legislation. I have sent a note back this week saying no," she said.

"I'm hoping we can get it through in the next month or so."

Mrs Turia, who as Associate Health Minister has responsibility for tobacco control , said a tax increase and banning tobacco displays would make it moredifficult for young people to take up smoking.

"The increase in price would be considerable, which would make it prohibitive for young people to take up smoking," she said.

Action on Smoking and Health director Ben Youdan said later that his group advocated raising the price of a packet of cigarettes by 20 per cent a year for the next five years, doubling the price of a $10 pack to $20 by 2015.

"Even a 20 per cent increase would be a significant deterrent to young people," he said.

"Tariana has indicated that she's very supportive of using tax as a tool to discourage young people from starting smoking, and to encourage them to quit, and she understands that that requires significant increases, not small token ones."

Mrs Turia appears to face an uphill battle to get tobacco displays banned in shops. The move was recommended by Parliament's health select committee under the Labour Government, but the National Party opposed it.