Tobacconists.

One person in every six in Australia regularly smokes - and to service these people every city and town has tobacconist shops specifically designed to service their needs.

Cigarettes are also sold by corner stores, petrol stations and supermarkets, but it is the local tobacconist who stocks the widest range of tobacco products, including pipe tobacco and cigars.

Tobacco is a legal product - but now the government has legislation pending that will deprive tobacconists of their living. It is hard to imagine any shop surviving when it is refused the right to show the product it sells or refer to that product by way of signage or window displays.

Does the government have a moral right to cause a shopkeeper loss and prevent the owner from earning a living without recompense ?

This same government greedily pockets the heavy taxes levied on tobacco but in the interests of public health sets out to impose impossible trading conditions on a product which remains legal.

There is a better way to improve public health by reducing smoking. The government should offer a one off bounty to those who sign a commitment to cease selling tobacco products. Those that break that contract at a later date would be subject to a draconian fine.

That would be a good way to sharply reduce the number of outlets selling cigarettes, and if tobacco is difficult to find then there is an added incentive for smokers to quit.

It would also compensate speciality tobacconists for shutting up shop - and achieve what is the hidden agenda of government with this legislation - to drive tobacco sales to the stage when making the product illegal is possible.