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Plain cigarette pack row takes centre stage in Australian election

Australia's plans to ban branded cigarette packs have taken a central role in the country's general election campaign after an alliance of small shopkeepers launched an advertising campaign against the move.

The Alliance of Australian Retailers (AAR), which represents both newsagents and service station owners, has today (5 August) placed a series of ads in the Australian press to contest the plans.

The campaign, which is being funded by the major tobacco producers, argues that the ban on all branding on cigarette packs would hurt small businesses and lead to job losses.

It comes as Australians plan to go to the polls in a general election on 21 August. While the ads are, according to reports, critical of the ruling Labor party, the opposition Liberal Party’s leader Tony Abbott has told the Australian press that he would consider going ahead with the plain-pack plans if he wins the election.

Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced the proposed ban, which would come into force in July 2012, back in April.

Sheryle Moon, who set up the AAR just two weeks ago, has denied that the campaign is politically motivated.

She told ABC News: "Plain packaging is not a proven policy," she said. "There's no credible evidence that this policy will stop people smoking, that it will stop kids, young people, taking up cigarette smoking. It will just make it more difficult for retailers to do their business."