Maori MPs’ proposals an invitation to organised crime
Media Release
2 November 2010 | Download as PDF - 25kb
The recommendations from the Maori MPs and leaked to Television New Zealand today demonstrate that the Maori Affairs Select Committee is completely out of touch with economic reality and will turn this country into a fertile ground for organised crime.
Association of Community Retailers tobacco spokesperson, Richard Green, said tonight: “If allowed to implement these recommendations, the Maori MPs who sit on this committee will take this country down the road of organised crime and will create an extremely dangerous environment for small, family-owned retailers.”
The National Government cannot allow these recommendations to be advanced through any legislation, Mr Green said.
Retailers have been fighting against any ban on tobacco displays in retail outlets on the grounds that it will increase the security risks in small retail shops and will impose unnecessary costs on them when they will be forced to reconfigure their shops. The Government’s price rise of tobacco products in April this year has already led to increased violent robberies of small dairies and convenience stores, and two more are still to be implemented.
However, such a proposed ban on tobacco displays will be the least of retailers’ concerns.
Limiting the amount of tobacco imported into New Zealand will do nothing to reduce consumption or demand. “Limiting supply will only open up our country to a huge black market and organised crime. Demand will be filled. If not legally, then it will be filled illegally. It’s a matter of simple economics,” Mr Green said.
The tobacco industry already contributes to around $1.2 billion in tax to the Government, so suggesting there are further price rises to fund tobacco cessation programmes will also lead to further crime and more retailers being killed in robberies.
“These recommendations are extreme measures. They will result in innocent retailers being put at risk. Hone Harawira obviously has no idea of the environment he wants to create. The recommendations will not create a ‘smokefree’ country, but they will create an economy driven by organised crime and fear. All of New Zealand should be afraid,” Mr Green said.
ENDS
For more information and interviews, contact Richard Green 027 492 4670
