烟草在线据《医学观察家》报道编译　　作为对大烟草公司对卷烟平装法律提起法律诉讼的大胆反击，澳大利亚联邦政府正在考虑起诉烟草业赔偿与吸烟有关的医疗费用。

　　南澳大利亚省卫生部长约翰·希尔的发言人对《医学观察家报》说，联邦卫生部长Tanya Plibersek已经同意希尔先生在5月初的卫生部长会上提出的请求，向首席检察官办公室寻求关于对大烟草公司提起集体诉讼的法律建议。

　　这名发言人说：“同时，南澳大利亚准备寻求一些初期的法律建议。这处于一个很早期的阶段，但其他各部部长对这个问题很有兴趣。”

　　在一宗成功的数十亿美元集体诉讼背后的美国反烟活动分子于去年12月份访问澳大利亚后，澳大利亚政府考虑起诉烟草公司。

　　澳大利亚公共卫生支持者说，美国的案子是基于可以适用于澳大利亚的普通法律准则。

　　澳大利亚公共卫生协会首席执行官迈克尔·摩尔说：“澳大利亚政府的机会非常好。”

　　“在大烟草公司寻求从政府获得补偿时……以其人之道还治其人之身，这是完全适当的做法。我认为，政府的机会很好——有先例。”

Govt may sue big tobacco for smoking-related health costs

　　THE federal government is considering suing the tobacco industry for smoking-related health costs, in what would be an audacious counterattack to big tobacco's court challenge of plain packaging laws.

　　A spokesperson for SA Health Minister John Hill told MO that Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek had agreed to Mr Hill's request to pursue legal advice from the attorney-general's office about a class action against big tobacco at a health ministers' meeting earlier this month.

　　"At the same time, South Australia's going to be pursuing some early legal advice," the spokesperson said. "This is at a very early stage but there was interest in the matter from the other ministers."

　　It comes after the US anti-tobacco campaigner behind a successful multi-billion-dollar class action visited Australia in December.

　　Last week Australian public health advocates said the US case was based on universal legal principles that could apply in Australia.

　　"The government's chances are very good," Public Health Association of Australia CEO Michael Moore said.

　　"At a time that big tobacco is seeking compensation from the government…it's entirely appropriate that the shoe be put on the other foot. I think the government's chances are very good - there are precedents."