Call for Tobacco Tax to Be Cut as Crims Control Market

Australia's tobacco tax crushed smoking. Has it gone too far?

A decade ago, illegal cigarettes made up about 10 per cent of sales in Australia. Now it's 80 per cent, so how did we get here?

Call for tobacco tax to be cut as crims control market

Australia's tax imposed on tobacco should be drastically slashed in a bid to disrupt the business model of organised crime, coalition politicians say.

Coalition MPs want to slash tobacco tax by up to 80 per cent to tackle crime

Australia’s illegal tobacco trade has become a matter of national security after entrenching criminal networks that can be exploited by terrorists, the Coalition’s taskforce on the black market has warned, as the party weighs up slashing the excise by up to 80 per cent.

Coalition backs 80pc cut to tobacco excise

The policy is a bid to break organised crime’s control of the lucrative black market for cigarettes.

Retailers support calls for tobacco excise cut

The Australian Retail Council has reinforced the need to cut tobacco excise as part of broader reforms to tackle illicit tobacco and organised crime. Responding to the release of a report from the Coalition Taskforce to Tackle Illegal Tobacco this week, Australian Retail Council CEO Chris Rodwell said there is a “clear case” for an excise cut. “A black market has flourished, organised crime and associated violence have grown, legitimate retailer…