Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for the Environment) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I would like to thank those members who have contributed to this debate and acknowledge my Western Australian colleague the member for Perth for an excellent speech.

This bill tackles illicit tobacco. It reforms the penalty and offence framework in the Excise Act 1901 to provide enforcement officers with access to tiered offences and strengthened penalties for offences related to illicit tobacco. These measures deliver on the government's 2016-17 budget commitment to better combat the illicit tobacco market and improve the health of Australians by reducing smoking rates. Full details of the measure is contained in the explanatory memorandum, and I commend this bill to the House.

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