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

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Today I also introduce a consequential amendment bill, the Trade Marks Amend­ment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill.

The Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill includes restrictions on the use of trademarks on tobacco products and the retail packaging of those products.

This bill amends the Trade Marks Act to allow regulations to be made in relation to the operation of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011. The objective of any such regulations would be to ensure that the practical operation of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 does not prevent businesses from registering new trademarks, or from protecting registered trademarks against infringement.

This bill is being introduced to amend the Trade Marks Act 1995 so that, if necessary in the future, the government can quickly remedy any unintended interaction between the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011 and the Trade Marks Act that cannot be dealt with under the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011.

Senator Carr, who is responsible for the Trade Marks Act, has indicated his strong support for the intent of the Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill and also supports the amendments to the Trade Marks Act that will result from this consequential amendments bill passing. He and I share the view that the health, economic and social costs to Aust­ralia of tobacco use justify the amendments to the Trade Marks Act.

I commend this consequential bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.