One Nation, Coalition bank on cheap cigarettes being uncool
The Coalition and One Nation will have to prove they believe a generation that has grown up thinking cigarettes are both uncool and expensive will continue to resist when the last of those barriers disappears.
Recent polling shows a concerning trend: nicotine consumption among Australian teens has plummeted to near-zero levels, with 26% having experimented with nicotine and 15% considering it. The Coalition, led by Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, has proposed a radical solution to curb this trend: slashing the tobacco excise by 80%, making legal cigarettes more affordable compared to the illegal market.
This plan includes funding for law enforcement and a public education campaign, as well as legalizing and taxing vapes and nicotine pouches. However, this proposal has alarmed health advocates and opposition parties, who fear it may inadvertently increase smoking rates and fuel organized crime. The Coalition argues that a lower-priced legal option will be more competitive than the illicit market, but experts warn that this approach could undo progress made in reducing youth vaping rates and result in a public health crisis.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
