The federal government aims to make smoking less alluring to young people by introducing compulsory plain packaging for cigarettes
It announced plans to bring in new laws making plain packaging compulsory for cigarettes and other tobacco products by January 1, 2012.
The initiative is part of the government's plan to keep the focus on health even while it fends off criticism over its decision to shelve plans for an emissions trading scheme (ETS) until 2013.
The government expects the packaging change will help make cigarettes less appealing to young people who may be susceptible to the lure of branding and packaging.
It intends to mandate standardised packaging for all products after developing and testing those with the least possible appeal.
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The industry will no longer be able to use logos, colours, brands, imagery or promotional text on their cigarette packets, which will still carry mandated health warnings.
In Australia, cigarette packets contain graphic health warnings about the risk of smoking that cover 30 per cent of the front and 90 per cent of the back of the package.
According to Tobacco in Australia, a 2008 publication from the Cancer Council Victoria, smoking rates among 18-24 year olds are on the decline.
However, one in five young Australians was smoking in 2007. Among secondary students, the figures show 11 per cent of males and 12 per cent of females smoking at age 15, rising to 19 per cent of males and 17 per cent of females at 17.
Research suggests that brand design is one of the key elements used by tobacco companies to make their product attractive to consumers.
A 2009 report from the government's Preventative Health Taskforce quoted research indicating that "decreasing the number of design elements on the packet reduces its appeal and perceptions about the likely enjoyment and desirability of smoking".
The announcement ties in with Labor's strategy to keep building its credentials on health, which it plans to use as the bedrock of its campaign to win the next federal election.
Last week, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd won an agreement from all states and territories - except Western Australia - for his health and hospital reform package, designed to give the federal government greater funding control over the failing public hospital system.
Disease prevention was one of the key areas of health reform missing from the government package.
But although it may want to keep health in the spotlight, the government is facing increasing pressure over its decision to jettison the ETS.
The decision leaves its commitment to tackle climate change - one of its key reforms from the 2007 election - in tatters.
Treasurer Wayne Swan denies the planned delay in the ETS - which will reportedly save taxpayers more than $2 billion - will help the government find the cash to pay for the $5.4 billion in sweeteners it used to coax the states to sign on to the health deal.
People will have to wait until the May 11 budget to find out from where the money is coming.
"You will see that we have funded our commitments in health, you will see how we have funded them, and I can tell you it won't relate to the (ETS)," Mr Swan told reporters on Wednesday.
