Freeze tobacco tax & allow vapes to fight illicit tobacco
The higher tobacco taxes go, the more demand there is for illegal tobacco trade.
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.
What else is news?
Everything Tam's been saying in front of journalists and their microphones.
From the outback to the suburbs, veterinarians are the frontline that safeguards animal welfare, rural economies and our own health against hidden biosecurity threats.
Adequate funding transforms early childhood classrooms into launchpads where skilled educators can nurture curiosity and resilience, giving Australian kids a lifelong edge.
Tasmania’s hospitals overflow with fit patients awaiting aged-care support
Find out why healthy Tasmanians are stuck in beds while the government drags its feet.
What if the next doctor you see isn’t born here?
Tasmania’s longest-serving disability provider battles a perfect storm
The hidden costs that could shut down essential therapy for thousands.
Find out why empathy may be the missing piece to solving Australia’s housing crisis.