Health Money Should Be Spent on Patients, Not Lawyers
26 JUNE 2014
The Taxpayers’ Union is asking the Ministry of Health to justify why tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money has
been wasted prosecuting a tobacconist for displaying a sign that indicated his store sold tobacco and a cartoon which ironically mocks public health campaigners.
“This isn’t about stopping flashy adverts, it’s taxpayer funded lawyers and lobbyists targeting a sole proprietor for
selling a legal product. What’s next, are they going to take someone to court for having the word ‘tobacconist’ in the
white pages?"
"If the moralists started suing mechanics for displaying dirty calendars, there would be ridicule. Here taxpayer funded
officials have targeted a shopkeeper for displaying an un-PC cartoon and a ‘bad word’. “
“Surely there are more pressing needs in the health sector than throwing taxpayers’ money at lawyers to go on a witch
hunt after someone for a displaying a dilapidated sign."
ENDS