Roman Travers: It seems the Associate Health Minister has lost the plot

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Jan 25, 2024 · 3m

For the record, New Zealand doesn’t have a minister for the tobacco industry. Or does it?

The Associate Health Minister, Casey Costello is being labelled by some as the Minister for the Tobacco Industry, based on a proposal that’s yet to be confirmed by Casey Costello, that she wants to see a 3-year freeze on the tobacco tax.

What this means is that cigarettes would be insulated from the full impact of inflation under a proposal from the New Zealand First Associate Health Minister.

At the moment, tobacco excise is increased each year in line with the Consumer Price Index. Apart from gathering…