KEY POINTS:
NUKU'ALOFA - The tiny Pacific nation of Niue could become the first in the world to totally eliminate smoking under a plan to pay its 200 smokers to quit.
Only about 1500 people live in Niue - making it one of the smallest nations on Earth - but 200 of them smoke.
Premier Vivian Young said it would be cheaper to pay all smokers up to $2000 each to stop smoking than it would be to continue to pay for their healthcare costs.
"Of course I am serious. If your health bill is climbing beyond $200,000, up to $1 million per year, then it is preferable to pay [smokers to quit]," he told reporters in Tonga.
"We are having referral cases to New Zealand. We send three, four, five per week because of smoke-related diseases."
Niue is serious about its fight to stamp out smoking. This month, it was announced that a bill would be tabled in Parliament banning smoking in all public places, worksites, government departments and tourist areas in the country.
The legislation will also allow villages to ban smoking.
Mr Young said he had called for a paper on the feasibility of the anti-smoking plan.
The Premier is in Tonga for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting.
- AAP
