Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
2:49 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Last year when speaking about Labor's responsible plan on tobacco excise, the health minister said:
…this is a grab for money, it's a political statement and I don't like it.
Does the Prime Minister agree with his Minister for Health: is raising tobacco excise to levels recommended by the World Health Organization a political statement or a grab for money?
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
2:50 pm
It is clearly a revenue raising measure and so I suppose in that sense it will generate revenue for the government. But the arguments around tobacco taxes are very well understood.
Ms King interjecting—
Malcolm Turnbull Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I understand the honourable member's interest in discerning what the contents of the budget are, but I would remind the honourable member that governments of both political persuasions at different times have increased tobacco taxes. As Leader of the Opposition, I proposed it myself in 2009. I would say it is not an original idea. The honourable member—while I welcome her interest in the contents of the budget—will just have to wait until it is delivered.
Ms MacTiernan interjecting—