World
Australian states weigh plan to sue tobacco firms for billions
Australian state governments are reviewing a proposal to seek up to $50bn from major tobacco companies to cover public healthcare costs.
A proposal developed by former barrister Neil Francey suggests that Australian state governments could file proceedings in federal court seeking up to $50bn in compensation from major tobacco companies. The plan aims to recover decades of publicly funded healthcare and hospital costs associated with smoking-related illnesses, targeting dominant manufacturers under consumer protection laws. The initiative proposes that six state governments pool their resources to form a joint legal taskforce. While the South Australian government is formally seeking advice on the proposal, other states are currently reviewing the blueprint.
Powered by AI