Freeze tobacco tax & allow vapes to fight illicit tobacco

Senator Tammy Tyrrell, Independent Senator for Tasmania, responds to Peter Dutton’s refusal to commit to real solutions on illegal tobacco and declining tobacco excise revenue today.

“Right now people are paying $84 for a 40 pack of smokes and they’re struggling to access vapes. No wonder they’re turning to the black market. 

“Let’s freeze the tobacco excise for a year while cost of living pressures are still high. And then regulate vapes. Make them accessible the same way people buy smokes. That way adults who want or need vapes can use them and we’re putting money back into the budget for health measures.

“The Liberals were up in arms when Labor’s vape regulations passed last year. But will they keep their promise to overturn the laws? There's been crickets from them on this issue."

Senator Tyrrell is a reformed smoker and has loved ones who have used vapes to quit smoking. She says she'd be a hypocrite to say it’s okay for her loved ones to make the choice to vape for their health, but not okay for other people. Senator Tyrrell thinks adults should be able to make their own decisions about their health and what they consume.

Senator Tyrrell voted against Labor’s vaping regulation bill in the Senate last year.