House debates

Thursday, 4 June 2026

Bills

Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026; Second Reading

1:29 pm

Photo of Michael McCormackMichael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) | Hansard source

Up to four in five cigarettes smoked in Australia are illegal. This is a disgrace. This is an absolute disgrace. Between 2025-26 and 2029-30, the government expects to collect $15.4 billion in excise. That's compared to the $27.3 billion it had forecast for the same period in last year's budget. That is a shortfall of $11.9 billion in excise in money that could be spent in state hospitals, in money that could be spent keeping the lights on, in money that could be spent for hardworking taxpayers—

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