She did her own research
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11:23 am, October 4th, 2024 - 25 comments
Categories: casey costello, Christopher Luxon, health, nz first -
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The details of the mysterious papers that Casey Costello relied on to overrule Official advice on decision to cut taxes on Heated Tobacco Products so that Philip Morris could get a $216 million tax cut have been disclosed.
The papers do not support Costello’s claim about them. And they call into question her suitability to be a Minister.
From Russell Palmer at Radio New Zealand:
The Associate Health Minister Casey Costello’s “independent advice” on heated tobacco products is five articles that are either about different products, outdated, or only offer weak support for her view.
The five documents are not decisive on the benefits of the products.
They include:
- A 190-page report from Royal College of Physicians in the UK, published in 2016 that does not specifically mention heated tobacco products
- An article from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) in 2022, suggesting HTPs may help with smoking cessation, but the benefits are reduced if HTPs are used as a replacement for less-harmful vaping, and warns it could encourage non-smokers to use tobacco or lead former smokers to relapse
- A 2016 article (IJERPH) indicating the use of a different tobacco product, Snus, ‘appears to facilitate’ smoking cessation in Sweden
- A 2020 article (IJERPH) about smoking patterns in Japan – where nicotine vaping is not used – showing cigarette sales decreased after the introduction of Heated Tobacco Products
The final article was a comment piece published in the Lancet.
A more recent report from the Royal College of Physicians also says the tobacco industry’s claims heated tobacco products are less harmful than cigarettes is “not yet supported by independent evidence”.
The 2022 article also highlights that while substantial research has been devoted to nicotine vaping products, “much less is known about HTPs”.
“Better information is needed to more precisely define the health risks of HTPs compared to cigarettes and NVPs, the relative appeal of HTPs to consumers, and the likelihood of later transitioning to smoking or quitting all products,” it states.
Labour’s Ayesha Verrall has gone on the offensive. Again from Radio New Zealand:
Labour’s Ayesha Verrall told RNZ it showed Costello could not be trusted, and should be sacked.
“There are many things that Ministers are expected by Cabinets to have worked out for themselves, and when they put assurances in paper to Cabinet about the work they have done to justify the paper they’re bringing, that will be taken on trust by their colleagues.
“What the minister has shown here is that her assurance cannot be trusted, and that comes back to Christopher Luxon. Is he going to accept someone who basically prints some junk off the internet as a justification for a $216 million tax cut, being part of his Cabinet?”
I am still shaking my head about this. From what I can tell Costello’s highest qualification was obtained at Police College. Medical science is really detailed and contested and there is nothing to suggest that she has the Intellectual rigour to properly analyse what she is reading. And she has racist tendancies as shown by her support for Hobson’s Pledge. There is an inverse correltation between intelligence and holding racist beliefs.
Her level of intellectual rigour is such that she does not appear to appreciate that her judgment is inferior to that of people who spend their professional lives keeping on top of the literature. And she was willing to bypass them and exclude them from her decision making.
And even if there is merit in using HTPs to reduce smoking there is no guarantee that the way she has done it will actually make the products cheaper or more accessible. Philip Morris could just pocket the extra profit.
This highlights Christopher Luxon’s lax control over his ministers not to mention the very poor quality of Ministers that he has. If this was Helen Clark’s Government Costello would be out.
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Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...6 days ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Billâwhich allows landlords to end tenancies with no reasonâignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...6 days ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...7 days ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...7 days ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Todayâs announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the countryâs rail network. ...1 week ago
- Release: Nicola Willisâ smaller ferries will cost more
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- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
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- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...1 week ago
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The Green Party has welcomed the OECD urging the Government to re-examine separating âgentailersâ to make a fairer electricity market for New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
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Housing Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed National has broken yet another election promise. ...2 weeks ago
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Today the ACT-National Coalition Agreement pet projectâs findings on âno additional warmingâ were released. ...2 weeks ago
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Health New Zealand has exaggerated its deficit to justify job cuts. ...2 weeks ago
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The Governmentâs latest round of cuts to research and innovation targets the long-established and successful Marsden Fund. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. âThe Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill â the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...7 hours ago
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The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. âPlanting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...8 hours ago
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Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. âI would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. âThe appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Boardâs capacity ...12 hours ago
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New Zealand has ratified the Upgrade to the Agreement establishing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), Minister for Trade Todd McClay announced today. âASEAN which is comprised of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, is New Zealandâs fourth largest trading partner in two-way trade â ...1 day ago
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The coalition Governmentâs new one-stop shop fast-track consenting regime for regionally and nationally significant projects will help rebuild the New Zealand economy, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones. The Fast-track Approvals Bill passed its third reading in Parliament today. Applications for projects to ...1 day ago
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The Government is adopting a new financial indicator and a new approach to capital allowances, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. These changes follow reviews, announced at the Budget, of the operating balance before gains and losses (OBEGAL) and the multi-year capital allowance (MYCA). âSince 2008, governments have used OBEGAL to ...1 day ago
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Lifting the productive capacity of the economy is the key to realising New Zealandâs potential, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. âThe Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update released today shows the Crownâs financial position has deteriorated over the past six years, but the economy has reached a turning point. âInflation ...1 day ago
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Childrenâs Minister Karen Chhour has welcomed the release of the first quarter of Oranga Tamariki performance data. âSince becoming Minister for Children, I have been clear that Oranga Tamariki must be relentlessly focused on the safety of children and young people in its care. âThis is why I introduced key performance ...1 day ago
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The Government is supporting businesses to secure the skills and experience New Zealand needs by continuing to refine the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). âA responsive immigration system is fundamental to rebuilding the economy,â Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says. âEarlier in the year, we made initial changes to the AEWV ...2 days ago
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The adult minimum wage rate will increase by 1.5 percent to $23.50 an hour from 1 April 2025, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced today. This minimum wage increase meets the NZ First-National coalition commitment to moderate increases to the minimum wage every year. Cabinetâs decision reflects ...2 days ago
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It will soon be easier to get things built in New Zealand due to the actions delivered by the Government as part of our Quarter Four (Q4) Action Plan, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. âThe modern and reliable infrastructure New Zealand desperately needs is a lot closer thanks to the ...2 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra After two successive surpluses, the federal budget will be back in deficit in 2024â25, according to the much-anticipated budget update released on Wednesday. Known as the Mid-Year Economic ...4 hours ago
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Attorney-general Judith Collins said she was aware of what happened and was "appalled by it". ...6 hours ago - Why Vanuatu should brace for even more aftershocks after this weekâs deadly quakes: a seismologist...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Rescue services working in Port Vila, December 18 2024. Vanuatu Police Force/Facebook The death toll from Vanuatuâs earthquake disaster continues to rise, with international search and rescue operations underway to help people hit by the initial ...6 hours ago
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The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.
Should that be 'have been disclosed' rather than 'have not been disclosed'?
[Oops. Now corrected – MS]
PM Baldrick Luxon is playing “I know nothink…” because he lacks courage, is not well suited to politics, and yet knows exactly what will happen if Mrs Costello is sacked–Winston will be at his door…carrying a (figurative) baseball bat with spikes…
Remember when Clare Curran got relentlessly hounded for alleged diary discrepancies for one pathetic meeting with a media figure? Nothing compared to what this Minister has been up to, arrogantly securing millions for her Tobacco mates and potentially endangering thousands of NZ peoples health, in a very unsophisticated way.
Too easy..
.
@drayeshaverrall
Costello’s bid for a $216M tax break for Philip Morris was approved by Cabinet, but it turns out the only evidence she had was a bunch of irrelevant papers and an op ed.
Time to break out the epidemiology PhD and Costello’s so called “independent advice” … cracks knuckles. đ§”1/8
https://xcancel.com/drayeshaverrall/status/1841745561697059310
Whenever someone says "they did their own research" an alarm bell rings inside my head.
Big Tobacco Farm funded research?
Wot really happened:
A Phillip Morris executive called Costello – "Look, we've got a shed load of these HTP which are not moving. How about giving a bit of an incentive for
mugspeople to buy them?"Costello – "Will do, I'll persuade Luxon to offer a tax break, he's a sucker for any line of non-reasoning which doesn't affect his bottom line. If nothing else, you'll make a tidy bit on the side, and I know you'll remember me when I 'retire' from politics."
Political commentators: "Where is the evidence on which you based this tax break?"
Costello to emotional junior staffer: "Quickly, search the internet for anything that backs up my position!"
And the rest, as they say, is history!
It's like you were in the room..
Was Minister Costello ever asked when she did this research, even down to the individual papers/reports, especially when compared to the timeline of her decision-making process?
In other words, what actual evidence influenced her decision/s?
Was she asked what reports and evidence was she offered or made aware of, before the decision being made, that she did not read?
Does this explain why she initially refused to show these papers /reports? She’d not read them and needed time to amass some ‘evidence’?
An unsavoury situation. It is a digital world now, Governments and Parliamentary political parties have procedures and things like Cabinet Manuals and so on. So unless you are delivering a ransom note or something, random pieces of paper do not cut it in serious politics.
Mrs Costello’s document handling practices are apparently under review by the Parliamentary Archivist. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/528429/chief-ombudsman-criticises-costello-over-withholding-tobacco-documents
I can't see her lasting until Christmas tbh.
Ordinarily I would agree with you. But we are in strange times.
If we had a leader with a hint of a spine, some political nous and ability to read the room, she'd be gone. But we've got Luxon.
If she was a National MP, she would have probably been booted from Cabinet.
But she isn't. And under our Luxon who clearly was willing to give up nearly everything to be PM, she may hang on.
Time will tell I guess. Probably even Peters is finding her to be an embarrassment. So, might be quicker than what you think.
Corruption Costello is clearly not fit to be a Minister (or an MP). But like Seymour, McKee, Jones etc she knows under this corrupt coalition with it's shallow, incompetent PM she and they are untouchable.
Unless the pressure builds to cancer drug funding levels.
The pressure needs to be applied on Winston. As leader of her party he is the only one who can sack her. Blowtorch on Winnie time.
Where is Winnie? I thought he'd be out front revelling in being deputy PM but he's been awol for ages.
I found a roll of "independent research" next to the throne this morning when I was having a seat
I bet you didnât table that either at cabinet to avoid creating a stink with the soap dispenser âŠ
might mail it to her, she can use it to wipe Shane Jones, Seymour and Simeons Browns mouths with it given the loads they often speak
So far the COC Government just ignores the mischief that they use. The peasants do't matter so a quick scoff and carry on. For example :
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/10/03/major-freshwater-u-turn-snuck-in-to-unrelated-bill/?utm_source=Newsroom&utm_campaign=62821c400a-Daily_Briefing+04.10.2024&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-62821c400a-95522477&mc_cid=62821c400a&mc_eid=88a3081e75
Doing your own research is fair enough, but shouldn't it be relevant?
The Minister's research wasn't really relevant and looks suspiciously like a hastily assembled bunch of notes designed to make it look relevant, but failed.
Sloppy work and now her colleagues are starting to get a bit sick of covering for her.
I blame Winnie – he picked her.
My highest qualification is probably above Costello's, but none of it from the health sector.
And, I haven't been to Japan in the last 10 years, but I have been a few times.
So, being upfront about my limitations,anecdotally, the tobacco cigarettes that particularly men smoked seemed pretty powerful compared to ours, if my passive smoking research is anything to go by.
Like factory chimneys. If you've ever shopped around for a Jap import car, you'll recall the stench from a smokers car that not even professional valets can get rid of.
So, it wouldn't surprise me if the HTP ciggies were less harmful than ordinary ones in that country.
Is there a trend here? Did Simeone Brown Google speed limits? Did Willis Google ferries? There are so many unusual decisions which this government has made one has to wonder.
"Google is your friend." đ
It’s worth noting that IJERPH was delisted from the Web of Science in 2023. That means its contents are no longer indexed in major scientific search engines or databases, and this was done precisely because of irregularities in the journal’s publishing behavior.