Ending ‘Christmas for criminals’: Coalition's tobacco tax cut argument
September 04, 2026 by politico.com
Ending ‘Christmas for criminals’: Coalition's tobacco tax cut argument
Australia’s tobacco excise debate shows how quickly public health policy can become an organised crime opportunity. Extremely high taxes may be designed to discourage smoking, but they can also make illegal cigarettes profitable enough to sustain violence, corruption and a market beyond normal controls. Enforcement alone cannot fix incentives this large. A credible strategy should reduce smoking while keeping consumers inside legal channels and making lower-risk nicotine alternatives easier to access than illicit tobacco.
September 03, 2026 by liberal.org.au
The Coalition’s Plan To Kill The Illicit Tobacco Market And Smash The Gangs
Australia’s illicit tobacco crisis cannot be solved by raids alone. The Coalition’s plan recognises…
11.00% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 2.4 million current smokers in Australia 12.90% of men are current smokers but only 9.30% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
