Tobacco plain packaging to pass despite Opposition

THE federal government's push for the plain packaging of tobacco is set to whistle through Parliament regardless of what Tony Abbott decides.
But Labor's plan to means-test the 30 per cent private health insurance rebate is in danger of collapse, with the independent MP Bob Katter saying yesterday he would not support the measure.
The government intends to introduce the plain packaging legislation into Parliament in July, by when the Greens, who support the measure, will control the Senate.

The government needs four extra votes in the House of Representatives should the Coalition, which is divided over the issue, oppose it. Yesterday those four votes were guaranteed.
Apart from the Greens MP Adam Bandt, the Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie also said he backed the changes, especially as his brother had died of lung cancer 10 years ago.
The NSW independent Tony Windsor said he supported the change and ''if I had my way, I'd ban the bloody things''. The West Australian National Tony Crook announced his support on Tuesday.
The other NSW independent, Rob Oakeshott, is yet to state a position but is inclined towards supporting it. Of the six cross-benchers, only Mr Katter is opposed.
The Nationals oppose the proposed plain green packets primarily because they see them as an erosion of tobacco companies' property rights. Several Liberals are of a similar view, while a small but growing group believes health is more important than property rights.
At least one of these MPs, the West Australian MP Mal Washer, a medical doctor, said he would vote for plain packaging regardless of party policy.
The Queensland MP Alex Somlyay said plain packaging would deter people from taking up smoking, which was more important over the long term than trying to discourage existing smokers with price increases.
To try to defuse the issue, Mr Abbott told his party room the Coalition would wait to see the final legislation before adopting a position. This has left the opposition exposed to government claims that it is resisting because it still accepts donations from tobacco companies.
''Get this monkey off your back. It's may be a rich monkey but it's a monkey nonetheless,'' the Mental Health Minister, Mark Butler, taunted in Parliament.
The opposition will oppose the plan to means-test the private health rebate, which would begin to phase out the 30 per cent rebate for singles on incomes of more than $80,000 and couples on combined incomes of more than $160,000.
Mr Windsor has indicated he will oppose the means test and Mr Katter said he too would vote against it, fearing it would drive more people into an already stretched public system.