Bill
Tobacco Plain Packaging Amendment Bill 2018
passed, as at 2018-10-03. Health portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Health
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2018-08-15
- second reading — 2018-08-15
- second reading — 2018-09-11
- second reading — 2018-09-12
- second reading — 2018-09-12
- third reading — 2018-09-12
- introduced — 2018-09-12
- second reading — 2018-09-12
- second reading — 2018-09-17
- second reading — 2018-09-18
- second reading — 2018-09-18
- committee — 2018-09-18
- third reading — 2018-09-18
- passed — 2018-09-18
- royal assent — 2018-10-03
Divisions
- The majority voted against an amendment to the usual [second reading motion](https://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html), which is "*That this bill be now read a second time*" (or in plain English, "*that the House agree with the main idea of the bill*"). Instead, Labor Senator [Catherine King](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/representatives/ballarat/catherine_king) moved the following: > *That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:* > *"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:* > *(1) notes that progress on lowering smoking rates has stalled following the Government's cuts to tobacco control measures; and* > *(2) calls on the Government to re-invest in lowering smoking rates."* — 2018-09-12, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 70, noes 74
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2018-09-18.6.2) to agree with the bill's main idea. In parliamentary jargon, they voted to read the bill for a [second time](https://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html). ### Bill's main idea The [bill was introduced](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r6155) "*to expand the range of persons who can be appointed as authorised officers for the purposes of undertaking compliance and enforcement activities under the [Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011]*". Read more in the [bills digest](https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1819a/19bd025). — 2018-09-18, Senate: affirmative, ayes 40, noes 3
- Tobacco Plain Packaging Amendment Bill 2018 - in Committee - Require manufacturer consent for plain packaging — 2018-09-18, Senate: negative, ayes 3, noes 37
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2018-08-15.
The bill would let the Secretary of the Department of Health appoint a wider range of people as authorised officers to enforce the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act.
Currently only federal public servants and Australian Federal Police members can be appointed; the bill would add people employed by other Commonwealth entities, state or territory health or police officers, and local government officials with health or tobacco enforcement duties.
The change is designed to handle future organisational changes, such as the National Measurement Institute restructuring, and to allow local officers to respond to non-compliance in remote areas, but only with the agreement of the relevant state or territory.
- Expands the categories of persons eligible to be appointed as authorised officers under the Act.
- Allows state and territory police officers and local government officials to be appointed with the consent of their jurisdiction.
- Responds to potential future organisational changes, such as the National Measurement Institute altering its employment arrangements.
The Department of Health, the National Measurement Institute, state and territory health departments, state and territory police, and local government officials with health or tobacco enforcement responsibilities.
Sources
em
billhome
frl act