Will slashing the tobacco excise rein in the illicit market? High government tobacco excise means Australia has among the most expensive legal cigarettes in the world at about $50 a packet. It's created a lucrative black market, with illicit tobacco accounting for more than half of national consumption, according to the Bureau of Statistics.
Now, the Coalition wants to slash the excise by 80 per cent. Right now, the government excise adds $30 to the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes. The Coalition says its proposal would reduce that charge to $6. But the Albanese government argues an excise cut is not the answer.
Nicole Hegarty reports.
7.30 is the ABC's flagship current affairs program, delivering original journalism, exclusive investigations, in-depth analysis and interviews on the major issues affecting Australia and the world.
With on-the-ground reporting from ABC journalists across every state and territory and around the world, 7.30 has the latest on politics, policy, the economy, cost of living, housing, health, climate and energy, national security and global affairs.
Presented by Sarah Ferguson, 7.30 scrutinises the decisions and actions of politicians, business leaders and other powerful institutions through rigorous interviews and investigations.
Watch full episodes of 7.30 free and ad-free on ABC iview. Search "ABC iview" on your smart TV or streaming device, find the ABC iview app on your mobile, or click here: https://iview.abc.net.au/
Subscribe: https://ab.co/3yqPOZ5
Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated.
#ABCNewsIndepth #ABCNewsAustralia