Abbott can’t shake the stink of the tobacco lobby

As every smoker knows, one of the worst things about the tobacco habit is the smell – it clings to you no matter what you do. That's the problem the Liberal Party now has. They've been in the pocket of the tobacco lobby for so long that they can't shake off the stink, no matter how hard they try.

The Liberal Party's last-minute turnaround on plain packaging of cigarettes, after much huffing and puffing, won't help them escape from the clutches of the tobacco companies who fill their party coffers. The question for Mr Abbott is: when will he kick the habit of taking money from the tobacco companies?

The Labor Party announced in 2004 that it would not on principle take money from Big Tobacco. Since then the tobacco companies have lavished more than $1.5 million on the Coalition parties. This does not include donations to individual electorate campaigns who are under the disclosable limit of 10,000.

According to the AEC data, since 1998 the Liberal Party has received $1,618,353 from British American Tobacco (BAT) and $1,440,595 from Phillip Morris. During last year's election the Liberal Party received $145,035 from British American Tobacco and $147,035 from Phillip Morris.
As Health Minister Nicola Roxon stated in parliament last week, BAT makes political donations to political parties in only three countries in the world, and Australia accounts for nearly all that spending – 97% of BAT's donations go to the Liberal Party and the National Party.

During last year's election, the tobacco companies funded a $5.5 million anti-Labor ad blitz with the help of Liberal strategists, headed by Jason Aldsworth of the Civic Group – a former Liberal parliamentary candidate – and including former Howard government adviser Mark Domitrak (now head of corporate affairs at BAT) and former Howard adviser Chris Argent (now corporate affairs director at Phillip Morris).

Phillip Morris International and BAT spent $2.2 million each, and Imperial Tobacco Australia spent $1.1 million.

This funded campaign was coordinated under the sham organisation, The Alliance of Australian retailers, who are controlled by tobacco companies under the guise of representing retailers. It was brought into existence solely as a medium for tobacco companies to influence public opinion, and was payed $200,000 a month retainer. In emails to and from the parties involved, entitled "Your Commission", Jason Aldsworth of the Civic Group was asked whether he would like the commission to be transferred "to your bank, or hold it for drinks in Barbados?" Mr. Aldsworth responded "...Maybe the bank for this one - we'll use the next one for the drinks tab in Barbados" and provided the account details for the Civic Group.