Huo Raymond: Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Huo Raymond: Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
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RAYMOND HUO (Labour) 
: 
 Xie xie Yizhang. Thank you very much. Relevant to the greeting I have learnt that many Chinese Kiwis are “Puff the Magic Dragons” or enjoy being “Puff the Magic Dragons” so the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill is very important. 
Todd McClay 
: Is that Kronic? What a Kronic statement. 
RAYMOND HUO 
: I wish the member would take a call on that particular point. My colleague Sue Moroney mentioned internet sales in her speech. I would like to touch on some experiences from other jurisdictions to assist in better appreciating what our bill has to offer. Earlier this year US President Obama signed the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act legislation to regulate the sale of tobacco products over the internet and through the mail. The law also makes it harder for vendors to avoid paying federal state and local taxes and enforces internet retailers to comply with other regulations of tobacco products including selling to minors. Among the measures two aspects are particularly worth noting—first the ban on delivery of tobacco products through the United States Postal Service; and second requiring age verification upon both the purchase and the delivery of tobacco products. 
Across the Ditch in Victoria retailers selling tobacco have been banned from displaying tobacco products from 1 January this year. Tobacco products cannot be visible from anywhere inside or outside a retail outlet. Tobacco products are also banned from being displayed on vending machines which pretty much is along the lines of Supplementary Order Paper 256 which was submitted by my colleague Iain Lees-Galloway. Some key changes to the tobacco laws in Victoria have included firstly banning smoking in cars carrying children under the age of 18 years and secondly implementing improved cessation services with an emphasis on supporting pregnant women Aboriginal people and other groups with high smoking rates. 
I come back to the bill. A few submitters argued for the banning of online tobacco sales on the basis that such sales are inconsistent with the aims of the bill because of difficulties in verifying the age of purchasers and the difficulties of enforcement. Regarding enforcement it is very interesting that in Turkey for instance the Government is tightening its grip even more by preventing the sale of tobacco products on the internet and through other electronic communication methods. Those who sell tobacco products online on television by fax by phone or through the post will pay a hefty fine. The company selling tobacco products will also have its internet access cut off. More interesting is that the smoking ban will be supervised by the police instead of by municipal boards. Those who do not comply with the initial written warning will receive a hefty fine. 
It is very interesting and also very encouraging to note that our select committee proposed that online sales should be subject to any regulations made concerning signs notices health information or warnings. A number of amendments have been made to the bill to ensure that sale controls will also cover internet sales offering tobacco products. On that note I congratulate the Minister in the chair the Associate Minister of Health the Hon Tariana Turia on such good initiatives. Thank you.