煙草在線據BigPond新聞網報道編譯　　政府和四大煙草巨頭就勞工部頒布的世界第一個卷煙平裝法案對簿高等法院。

　　在7名法官的全席法庭前，為期3天的聽證會從4月17日早晨開始。

　　英美煙草公司、菲莫國際、帝國煙草澳大利亞公司和日本煙草國際公司聲稱，去年11月國會通過的政府立法是違憲的。

　　他們辯論道，聯邦政府正在通過消除品牌名稱和標識攫取它們的財產，而沒有給予補償。

　　但政府在上交高等法院的意見中表示，這純粹是無稽之談，他們并沒有從中獲利。

　　政府并非如煙草公司所說要奪取其品牌，立法僅僅是簡單地規定它們需要“用適當的可讓人接受的方式減少對公眾的危害”。

　　煙草公司竭盡所能地打在這一官司，因為它們擔心，如果政府這次勝訴，其他國家將效仿澳大利亞實施類似的措施。

　　英美煙草發言人斯科特·麥金泰爾（Scott McIntyre）表示，這次起訴將會作為卷煙平裝法案合法性的“判例案件”。

　　“作為一個銷售合法產品的合法公司，我們一直代表股東堅持捍衛自己的財產，就如所有公司都會做的那樣，”麥金泰爾先生在4月16日的聲明中表示。

　　然而，總檢察長尼古拉·羅克森（Nicola Roxon）認為，政府一方的法律依據更充分。

　　4月初她曾說過：“煙草產品平裝法案是為了達到保護公眾健康這一根本目標制定的立法措施。”

　　聯邦政府認為，即使煙草公司能夠證明政府侵犯了它的財產權，制造商們仍然無法勝訴。

　　因為平裝立法的宗旨是改善公眾健康，這一主旨符合憲法規定的商業、貿易和外貿立法授予的聯邦政府的權力。

　　昆士蘭州、澳大利亞首都特區（ACT）和北領地總檢察長與澳大利亞癌癥委員會都介入了該起案件。

　　勞工部的法律規定所有卷煙自2012年12月起，必須使用單一的橄欖棕色外包裝。

Tobacco giants in court

Tuesday, April 17, 2012
BigPond News

　　The government and four tobacco giants are to face off in the High Court over Labor's world-first laws requiring all cigarettes to be sold in plain packs.

　　The three-day hearing starts on Tuesday morning before the seven justices of the full court.

　　British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris, Imperial Tobacco Australia and Japan Tobacco International claim the government's legislation, which passed parliament in November, is unconstitutional.

　　They argue the Commonwealth is acquiring their property - in the form of brand names and logos - without just compensation.

　　But the government, in its submission to the High Court, says that's rubbish because it is not getting any benefit.

　　Rather than taking over the companies' brands it says the legislation simply restricts their use 'in a manner appropriate and adapted to reducing harm to members of the public'.

　　Big tobacco is throwing everything at the legal challenge because it is worried other countries could follow Australia's lead if the government wins the day.

　　BAT spokesman Scott McIntyre says the stoush will operate as a 'test case' on the validity of plain packaging legislation.

　　'As a legal company selling a legal product we have continually said we will defend our property on behalf of our shareholders as any company would,' Mr McIntyre said in a statement on Monday.

　　However, Attorney-General Nicola Roxon believes the government is on strong legal ground.

　　Earlier this month she said: 'Plain packaging of tobacco products is a legitimate measure designed to achieve a fundamental objective - the protection of public health.'

　　The Commonwealth argues that even if big tobacco could prove the government was acquiring their property rights the manufacturers still wouldn't win in court.

　　That's because the purpose of the plain packaging legislation - namely to improve public health - is within the scope of the Commonwealth's legislative power under the constitution's commerce, trade and external affairs powers.

　　The Queensland, ACT and the Northern Territory attorneys-general are all intervening in the High Court case along with the Cancer Council of Australia.

　　Labor's laws will force all cigarettes to be sold in drab olive-brown packs from December 2012.