Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Rural Health and Minister for Sport, Senator McKenzie. What proportion of Australians living in remote and regional areas smoke, and what is the cost to the Australian health system as a result?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator McCarthy, for your question. We know that we lead the world in smoking cessation here in Australia. It was as a result of a campaign that began in my home state of Victoria through VicHealth many, many, many years ago. But, whether we look at the changes that state governments have made, implementation of a variety of tax regimes on the purchase of cigarettes or the plain-packaging legislation introduced by the former Labor government, at every single step of the way state and territory governments and federal governments in this country have been committed to reducing smoking rates in this country.

In my home state of Victoria we had a great tobacco industry. The production of tobacco ceased as a result of decisions taken by state and Commonwealth governments. So reducing smoking rates in Australia is an important task at hand, but I do recognise, Senator McCarthy, that the smoking rates in particular for Indigenous Australians are of a particularly higher rate than is acceptable and that we are doing everything that we can to seek to reduce those.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McCarthy, a supplementary question.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that the latest records from the Australian Electoral Commission show the Nationals accepted $15,700 from big tobacco in the 2016-17 financial year, what action will the minister, who is also the Deputy Leader of the Nationals, take to end this unhealthy practice?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much for your question, Senator McCarthy. As you know, for each and every one of us that represents a political party in this place, any questions around donations are a matter for our federal organisations. But I am very, very happy to go in a very detailed way through the variety of measures that our government and former Labor governments have taken to reduce the level of smoking in this country.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Final supplementary question, Senator McCarthy.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, how can the minister expect the Australian people to take her seriously when, instead of promoting good health and healthy lifestyles, the minister is a leader in a party addicted to big tobacco cash?

An honourable senator: You do have a smile!

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Communications) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do have a smile. Thank you very much for your question. For the chamber, I will declare an interest. For a long period of time, I was also one of those Australians who did smoke cigarettes, so I think I've paid my fair share of tobacco cash and tax. At one point in my life I did smoke cigarettes, but I also played sport and tried to be healthy. Thanks to the great work of former Labor governments and the great work of former Liberal-Nationals governments, I am now a reformed smoker. I am reformed. I am committed to a healthy lifestyle and smoking cessation.