Australia's health minister has slammed a tobacco company for its decision to affiliate itself with the country through its packaging.
The Winfield packets, made by British American Tobacco Australia (BATA), feature a picture of a kangaroo on the front along with the words "An Australian Favourite".
Nicola Roxon has criticised the new packaging, claiming it is misleading foreign consumers about Australians' healthy lifestyle, adding that it is sneaky and inappropriate.
The debate comes as the country prepares to introduce plain-packaging as part of an anti-smoking campaign, a move BATA is now legally challenging, but the UK is planning to debate the same issue in the spring of this year.
BATA said that it was 'concerning' that Ms Roxon had commented on a current High Court Case.
Some experts have suggested that if debates in the UK result in the introduction of similar plain packaging legislation, businesses may turn to booklet labels so they can carry the same information.
Denny Bros Ltd, 17 January 2012
