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Parliament is set to debate Tariana Turia's Plain Packaging Bill
for tobacco products tonight.
Prime Minister John Key
has already flagged it's likely to get to select committee stage,
but with mounting legal pressure
from tobacco giants the bill looks set to fail.
Political reporter Irena Smith has more.
A long-time health advocate for Maori.
The Plain Packaging Bill has reached its first reading,
but it could take a long time before it's passed into law.
Tariana Turia says
NZ should not bow down to major tobacco companies,
nor wait for other countries.
She has the support of a Labour MP.
If we're waiting for Australia,
then that's a waste of time.
We've started down this road, promoting a smokefree world,
especially among Maori.
This is her last year in Parliament,
but she will carry on with the fight no matter what.
The bill is set for debate in the next couple of hours,
but it's questionable whether National will allow it
to be debated again before the elections.
Irena Smith, Te Karere.