European Union doubts about plain packaging and an Aussie caricature

Further to criticism from other quarters, the European Union has added its voice to the doubts being expressed about the legitimacy of the plain packaging strategy, the World Trade Organisation fearing that it breaches laws on intellectual property. The Australian government is convinced it has done its homework and insists it can work the legislation within intellectual property rights law. The reporter clearly has reservations:

The Health Minister refused to answer questions about the size of the legal budget the government has set aside to cover the cost of challenges brought by the tobacco industry. When asked whether lawyers would be the biggest winners out of plain packaging laws, Ms Roxon said: "I think the public stand to be the biggest winners out of this measure."

Meanwhile writer David Campbell shows the caricature that results when the media decides not to take both sides of an issue seriously.