TOBACCO LAW COMPLIANCE

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (15:13): Sir, I have a supplementary question. Will the minister give us some details about the banning of fruit-flavoured cigarettes? How is the law being enforced, and how does the minister know? I have been to three tobacconists (to buy cigarettes), and fruit-flavoured cigarettes were on display on the counter as recently as two weeks ago.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:13): If that were so, they would be in breach of regulations. If the honourable member wants to forward that information to my office, or to the appropriate authorities, we can investigate that. The bans are targeted at products that are particularly aimed at the youth market. So, they are targeted at the brightly coloured fruit-flavoured product. The traditional rum-flavoured cigars that have been around for a long time are not included in these bans. I am not too sure what the products were, but certainly—

The Hon. A. Bressington interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: It sounds like the honourable member is describing the product that is banned.