Press Release
Media Advisory: Commentary
Dairy Owners Tobacco Tax Targets
With each hike in tobacco prices there is a corresponding rise in dairy and petrol station robberies. "Coincidence?"
asks Joy Faulkner, "I don't think so. And what is the Minister of Police's weak-kneed response? That these businesses
should spend their ever dwindling profits on expensive alarm systems, high premium insurance cover, and on a direct dial
111 button!"
What is the simple answer? "First, she says, "that they be allowed to defend themselves and their property. Second,
bring the bloody taxes on cigarettes back down. How many deaths and violent crimes will it take before the government
does this?"
Tobacco taxes are about simple revenue collection, not about health; the $800 million extorted from tobacco taxes
doesn't go on smokers' health, despite covering these costs three times over. Says Faulkner: "This is about government
greed, this is about the feeding of a frenzied bureacracy, and the poor smoker is an easy target - and now the dairy
owner is too."
"Tax is theft Mr Hawkins, cigarette tax is extortion. No better than a mafia extortion racket. All he has to do is ban
it to stop the 'health cost to the country', but where would his govt get their pound of flesh then? Would we suddenly
see a 'fat tax' on the demon sugar, or on dairy products such as butter and cream?"
"Wake up and smell the coffee," she warns punters, "it's not about tobacco, or crime, it's about control, power and
money. YOURS!!! Once I as a smoker have been bled dry, your choice of pleasure will be the next target. Ask yourself:
Can you afford to pay that price?"
ENDS
Joy Faulkner Founder Smokers Of The World Unite Libertarianz Spokesman for Tobacco and Alcohol Deregulation
Contact: jfaulkne@ihug.co.nz 092684251 or 025 201 9604
Join my email smokers loop: http://www.egroups.com/group/Smokersoftheworldunite
* LIBERTARIANZ * More Freedom * Less Government *
www.libertarianz.org.nz www.freeradical.co.nz