High Court defence filed

8 February 2012

The Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, announced the Commonwealth Government has now filed and served its initial formal response to tobacco companies’ statements of claim in the High Court.

“The Commonwealth rejects the constitutional claims made by big tobacco,” Ms Roxon said.

“The Commonwealth will vigorously defend the validity of the plain packaging laws and does not accept there is any basis for big tobacco’s claims that the measures are unconstitutional.”

The defence filed in the High Court sets out the Commonwealth’s legal position. It would not be appropriate to say any more about the substance of the matters before the Court.

The tobacco companies involved are British American Tobacco Australia, Phillip Morris, Imperial Tobacco Australia and Japan Tobacco International.

Media contact: The Attorney-General’s Office - 02 6277 7300.