Experts weigh in on how to tackle illicit tobacco – and why an 80% excise cut is not on their list
News Source
•Fri, 04 Sep 2026 08:02:22 GMT
📰 What Happened
The Coalition wants to cut Australia's tobacco excise by 80% and spend an extra $200m on law enforcement. Shadow health minister Anne Ruston said the plan would take market control back from organised crime. She also wants to make it harder for children to access tobacco and vaping products, and to run anti-smoking campaigns.
Health experts say the plan is misguided. They warn it would wind back Australia's success in bringing down smoking rates. They say tougher enforcement and better monitoring of products coming into Australia should come first, before lowering taxes. The proposal is similar to one used in Canada in the 1990s.
🔍 The Backstory
Australia has some of the world's toughest tobacco taxes, and smoking rates have fallen to historic lows. But a black market in illegal tobacco has grown, with organised crime groups selling cheap smuggled cigarettes. The Coalition says lower taxes would shrink that market.
Experts say cutting taxes would make cigarettes cheaper for everyone, including children, and undo years of public health work. They point to Canada's experience as a warning. The debate is part of a bigger fight over how to reduce smoking and vaping while cracking down on the illicit tobacco trade.
🎯 Why It Matters
Smoking and vaping affect the health of ordinary Australians and the cost of healthcare. Cheaper cigarettes could mean more smokers, especially young people. How the government tackles the illegal tobacco trade shapes public health for years.
The Coalition wants to cut Australia's tobacco excise by 80% and spend an extra $200m on law enforcement. Shadow health minister Anne Ruston said the plan would take market control back from organised crime. She also wants to make it harder for children to access tobacco and vaping products, and to run anti-smoking campaigns.
Health experts say the plan is misguided. They warn it would wind back Australia's success in bringing down smoking rates. They say tougher enforcement and better monitoring of products coming into Australia should come first, before lowering taxes. The proposal is similar to one used in Canada in the 1990s.
Australia has some of the world's toughest tobacco taxes, and smoking rates have fallen to historic lows. But a black market in illegal tobacco has grown, with organised crime groups selling cheap smuggled cigarettes. The Coalition says lower taxes would shrink that market.
Experts say cutting taxes would make cigarettes cheaper for everyone, including children, and undo years of public health work. They point to Canada's experience as a warning. The debate is part of a bigger fight over how to reduce smoking and vaping while cracking down on the illicit tobacco trade.
Smoking and vaping affect the health of ordinary Australians and the cost of healthcare. Cheaper cigarettes could mean more smokers, especially young people. How the government tackles the illegal tobacco trade shapes public health for years.