View source for Australia: Campaigning Websites

The internet is an integral part of lobbying and campaigning for tobacco companies today. [[Philip Morris]] (PMI), [[British American Tobacco]] (BAT) and [[Imperial Tobacco]] all use websites to emphasise their arguments.

==PlainPack.com ==

[[Image:Plain_Pack_-_Home_1320330908183.jpeg|350px|thumb|left|BAT website. Screen grab from [http://www.plainpack.com PlainPack.com]]]

In March 2011, [[BAT]] launched a new website against plain packaging in Australia called [http://www.plainpack.com PlainPack.com] (see image to the left). 
It said:
<blockquote>
"We are strongly opposed to the plain packaging of tobacco products. The possible consequences of plain tobacco packaging are very serious:
*"Plain packaging means price becomes the most obvious distinguishing factor between brands. Competition could drive down prices, and consumption levels could increase as smokers switch to cheaper and/or counterfeit cigarettes.

*"The plainer the pack, the easier it is to counterfeit, and criminals will profit at the expense of taxpayers and honest retailers. Illegal tobacco will continue to grow rapidly...

*"We will defend the intellectual property within our packaging. If that requires us to take legal action, then we will do so.

*"These unintended consequences may end up costing Australian taxpayers billions of dollars."<ref>  BAT, [http://www.webcitation.org/6iHd33Fw9 Plain packaging website], accessed 20 June 2011</ref>
</blockquote>


== NoNannyState.com ==

[[Image:No_Nanny_State_1308909437177.jpeg|350px|thumb|right|Nonannystate. Screen grab from [http://www.nonannystate.com.au/Ads NoNannyState.com]]]

As part of a nationwide PR campaign based on the "No Nanny State" theme<ref> Sydney Morning Herald, [http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/cigarette-packaging-war-gets-dirty-20110614-1g15v.html "Cigarette packaging war gets dirty"], 14 June 2011 </ref>, [[Imperial]] set up a website called NoNannyState.com.au, no longer live (see image to the right), and made a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-31ew2k95w video] to encourage people to oppose the plain packaging legislation. It is part of a concerted effort to depict the government as interfering, set in the language used by right wing blogs in Australia, such as the [[Institute of Public Affairs]]:

:"The argument for plain cigarette packaging is one of the most stark examples of how Nanny State regulations treat individuals as childish automatons." <ref> Chris Berg,[http://www.ipa.org.au/publications/1725/10-worst-nanny-state-policies 10 Worst Nanny State Policies], Institute of Public Affairs website, Accessed June </ref>


==Plain-Packaging.com==

[[Image:Plain_Packaging_Tobacco_1319029073625.jpeg|250px|thumb|left|Plain Packaging. Screen grab from now defunct www.plain-packaging.com]]

[[Philip Morris]] ran two separate campaign websites, one called www.plain-packaging.com (see image to the left) and another called www.ideservetobeheard.com.au. The former website is no longer live.

When live, Philip Morris used www.plain-packaging.com to summarise its arguments against plain packaging, namely that plain packaging would lead to a rise in illicit trade, that it breaches intellectual property rights and that there is, according to PM, a lack of evidence that plain packaging would reduce cigarette smoking. A large proportion of the website was devoted to the retail industry, detailing how plain packaging would cause confusion for consumers at the point of sale.


==I Deserve to be Heard==

[[Image:I_Deserve_To_Be_Heard.jpeg|350px|thumb|right|"I deserve to be heard" Screengrab from [http://www.ideservetobeheard.com.au/home.php IDeserveToBeHeard.com]]]

The second website, [https://www.ideservetobeheard.com.au/home.php I Deserve To Be Heard] (see image to the right),  is presented as "an online resource for Australian adult smokers". 

It suggests that plain packaging is a slippery slope for more regulation: "Excessive tax increases on cigarettes, more smoking bans planned in outdoor areas, cigarettes not on display and now the latest idea is plain packaging for cigarettes - what's next?" 

It encourages smokers to: 
* send a letter to your local MP
* share your stories online
* spread the word to others to get them involved too.<ref> Philip Morris website, [https://www.ideservetobeheard.com.au/home.php I Deserve To Be Heard], accessed 20 June 2011</ref>

Philip Morris publicised this website by inserting promotional cards into packets of cigarettes encouraging smokers to visit.<ref> Helen Davidson, [http://www.news.com.au/national/cheeky-buggers-big-tobacco-launch-campaign-against-anti-smoking-policies/story-e6frfkvr-1226031535298 'Cheeky buggers: Big Tobacco aims to get smokers angry about taxes, bans'], News.com.au, 1 April 2011, accessed 15 December 2011</ref>

==Countering Industry Arguments Against Plain Packaging==
For information on the evidence that counters these industry arguments, see:

*[[Countering Industry Arguments Against Plain Packaging: It Breaches Intellectual Property Rights]]
*[[Countering Industry Arguments Against Plain Packaging: No Evidence Plain Packaging Will Work]]
*[[Countering Industry Arguments Against Plain Packaging: It will Lead to Increased Smuggling]]
*[[Countering Industry Arguments Against Plain Packaging: The Nanny State is going Too Far]]
*[[Countering Industry Arguments Against Plain Packaging: It will Cost Small Businesses]]


==TobaccoTactics Resources==

* [[Australia: International lobbying]]
* [[Australia: Trademark claims]] and other legal threats
* [[Australia: Smuggling and illicit trade threats]]
* [[Astroturfing]]
* [[Australia: Funding Think Tanks and Hiring Independent Experts]]
* [[Australia: Freedom of Information Requests]]
* [[Australia: Challenging Legislation]]
* [[Australia: Economic threats]]

==TCRG Research==

*[[Tobacco Control Research Group: Evidence on Plain Packaging]]

== Notes ==

<references/>

[[category:Plain Packaging]] [[category:Australia and New Zealand]][[category:Online Strategy]][[category:Arguments and Language]][[category:Smuggling]]