Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Hindmarsh for his question. The member for Hindmarsh was a very heavy smoker some years ago and kicked his own habit and is living a much healthier life as a result of it, and I am sure he will have a long life as the member for Hindmarsh as well.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to congratulate the Leader of the Opposition for finally deciding to support our plain-packaging measures on tobacco. Of course, this is long overdue support for a measure that has been supported by the World Health Organisation, the AMA, the Cancer Council and many other health experts. It took the opposition over a year since this was announced to make up its mind that it would support this measure. That only came after a damaging split on the other side with a number of backbenchers expressing their views. So it is little wonder—

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