'It is sort of an inevitable step along a spectrum of taking action against tobacco.

Dear Ms Roxon,

Forgive my naivete. Can you please provide me with some help in understanding your new legislative policy direction on this matter.

Yes, I am a smoker.

Yes, I intend to quit, and to be honest, if you intend to reduce the total number of smokers, including me, I would like you to explain how this move will help.

In fact, at present, whenever I cannot obtain my usual brand and strength of cigarette, it is impossible to know what is the equivalent or lower strength of cigarette as a result of packaging laws prohibiting the listing of nicotine strengths and related product names. I have, in fact, found myself smoking stronger, and one could assume, more harmful cigarettes as a result!

Some may tell me to just give up. That's fine. I will. But, firstly, I am not sure how plain packaging is going to assist me with this. You may ask why should the Government help in the first place? Well, and secondly, it is the Government that is choosing to try and reduce the number of smokers. Surely then, there is a responsibility here to assist? No?

Perhaps if I was addicted to heroin, I could obtain Government assisted programs to provide me with support to quit that addiction!

I don't disagree with the fact tobacco cigarettes create health risks to smokers and people around them. I don't disagree with this at all. Yes, if the Government, representing the people, want to remove this from our society, then, Ms Roxon, please explain to me exactly, how plain packaging is going to achieve this?

This is not about the tobacco companies. This is about government policy and direction. I think, as someone with a vested interest, I deserve some help in understanding this!

Ms Roxon, perhaps, rather than wasting time, energy and money on this sort of nonsense (as that is all I can see this as), perhaps you could invest energies in providing some 'real support'!

Let me know, I have experience as a smoker, and am more than happy to share some thoughts on this.

With regards,

Sylvestor