Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Watt. Given the rapid acceleration in the illicit tobacco trade in the years of the Albanese government and all of the dangerous black market and organised crime activity associated with it, does the minister accept that the lack of any meaningful or decisive practical action by your government is severely hampering state and territory governments' efforts to shut down this illegal activity within their jurisdictions.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Duniam. Congratulations on your recent appointment as the shadow home affairs minister.

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hear, hear!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The only person happier about that than me was Senator Paterson, who, we might recall, at the most recent estimates, was the acting temporary interim shadow home affairs minister. It's good to have an actual shadow home affairs minister, and I look forward to seeing you at estimates.

I think I was asked a question about this in the last fortnight, and the point I made there was that the government has taken serious action about what is a serious problem, and that is the growth of illicit tobacco. We provided $256.4 million in funding in 2023-24 to Border Force to strengthen the border against illegal tobacco and vaping products. There is a substantial amount of work being undertaken in combination with state and territory police forces to combat illegal tobacco. For example, we've set up the Illegal Tobacco National Disruption Group, which comprises the AFP and other federal agencies and every state and territory police force. We recognise this as a serious problem. It's going to take a lot of effort not just from federal government agencies but from state and territory agencies. We remain committed to supporting them.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, first supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In 2023, Minister Mark Butler forecast the tobacco excise would deliver an extra $3.3 billion in revenue over the forward estimates instead of what's now turned into a roughly $25 billion loss as a result of the exploding illegal tobacco trade. Minister, can you tell the Senate exactly how much worse off the bottom line will be as a result of this hands-off approach and the lack of any effective action being taken by your government?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Duniam. I don't have figures to hand as to the budget impact of these matters, but, as I say—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's $23 billion.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, if you know the answer, I'm not sure why you are asking the question. It sounds like Senator Duniam has answered his own question.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Duniam, second supplementary?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Environment, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was after an exact figure. Anyway, in light of the answers to both of those questions, what is the minister's response to the clear exasperation of the New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, who told reporters yesterday that he was very disappointed with the lack of action from the federal government, including that the government has no intention to change anything in this area despite the near constant pledge from state governments to do something about it?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Duniam. I haven't seen those comments myself, but what I can say, as I have already said, is that we are very committed to working with state and territory agencies to tackle this serious problem. There's effort going in at a police enforcement level. There's effort going in from Border Force. There is a range of other efforts being undertaken at the federal level as well. We know that it will take time, but we are already seeing results from some of these efforts. Over 2.5 billion illegal cigarettes and a total of 2,000 tonnes of tobacco were seized by Border Force last year, which is up 320 per cent over three years. But we recognise there is more to be done. We will keep sticking at it as an important issue.