wheels coming off for abbott, page-3

OMS, I believe I read recently that the tobacco companies will significantly reduce the price of cigarettes if plain packaging is adopted.

Won't this (a) tempt smokers to increase their habit and (b) give government more revenue from the increased sales?

It sounds very noble to do this as an attempt to stop smoking, but if the tobacco companies make them cheaper, surely that will have a reverse effect?

I'm not a smoker, hate the smell of it and wish it had never been invented.

Oh, and if Abbott's wheels are coming off over these small issues, does that mean Gillard has no wheels or carriage left? Gillard has far worse problems to sort out, imo.