John Oliver has more praise for Australia’s occasionally progressive streak (remember the one about guns?).
On the most recent edition of his hit US television comedy news review, Last Week Tonight, Oliver launches in to an 18 minute polemic, in which he rallies against big tobacco’s activities in developing countries. As well as pointing out that four of the actors who portrayed the Marlboro Man died of smoking-related illnesses, Oliver takes the audience on a ‘world tour’ of how big tobacco attacks laws intended to protect public health, starting Down Under
Oliver highlights Australia’s plain-packaging laws which outlaw cigarette branding. After running through the various horrific images of the ill-effects of smoking that must be displayed on Aussie durry packets, he heralds the government’s defence of the laws against two High Court lawsuits brought against it by tobacco companies.
But when he goes on to review how a big tobacco company then sued Australia in an international court for legislating a public health measure, he asks: “How the fuck is that possible?!”
We’ll let John explain the rest…
Oh and yes, Jeff the Diseased Lung in a Cowboy Hat – coming to a bus stop near you.
