Plain Packaging Arbitration: tribunal finds it has no jurisdiction

Today the arbitral tribunal hearing Philip Morris Asia's challenge of Australia's tobacco plain packaging laws dismissed the case. The Tribunal issued a unanimous decision agreeing with the Australian Government's position that the Tribunal has no jurisdiction to hear Philip Morris Asia's claims.

The Government is committed to defending the international challenges to Australia's plain packaging laws. The Government welcomes the Tribunal's decision.

Australia's world leading tobacco plain packaging laws, which are working as intended, are an important and legitimate measure designed to achieve a fundamental objective – the protection of public health.

The body running the arbitration–the Permanent Court of Arbitration–will publish the decision on its website once issues regarding confidentiality have been resolved.

More information about the arbitration can be found on the Attorney-General's Department website.