plain packaging

The success of the Australian government's push for the plain packaging of cigarettes in a landmark High Court case this week is a rare example of why I still believe in politicians. We don't often see our elected representatives putting their necks out for a real cause, but there are still many who entered politics to make a difference.

Having said this, i have no doubt that we have not heard the end of this case. The tobacco industry will rally and spend some of their significant profits on further legal battles over brand ownership, compensation for loss of profit and other spurious arguments aimed at stalling a final outcome.

So, why am I so interested in this subject?

In the last 10 years I have watched three people near and dear to me die slow and agonizing deaths as a direct result of smoking a substance that is freely available and regulated by the government.

the 2011 work function

Last night I attended an annual event with 500 of my closest friends and colleagues! That's a lot of people in one room, and a huge contrast to work events held by my previous employer. As a smaller, or "boutique" consulting firm, we would fly all of the Melbournians to Sydney, meet up with our colleagues and proceed to eat and drink until we

smoking makes you smell bad! oh, and it kills you, too!

On 7th May 2011 my mum died of lung cancer caused by nearly 40 years of smoking. She was four weeks shy of her 59th birthday, which is way too young in my opinion. She is survived by her mother and five children. She was one of five kids herself but she is the the third to succumb to smoking related lung cancer. Yes, the remaining two siblings still smoke. Why? What a great question, but it's not a question a sane and rational person can answer, because any sane and rational person who has seen just what we have seen in our family would throw their smokes in the bin and "man up" to