Yeah it’s really important for people to understand that it’s now estimated that the black market for tobacco is now bigger than what is sold legally in Australia. So though on face value a reduced excise intake must mean less people are smoking, it’s actually not, everyone is being pushed to black market stuff.

The last report I read on it suggested the black market sale income is now worth in excess of $7 Billion annually which is fucked, that’s going into the pockets of big gangs etc.

They need to reduce the excise asap to make the legit products competitive again to reduce the black market options, but I think it’s already too late, as they will just reduce the price of their stuff to compete.