No guarantee tobacco tax cut would lure Australian smokers from illegal trade and raise more revenue, report says

Exclusive: New research points to need for ‘holistic approach to combating illicit tobacco’ including having support of health advocatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSlashing the tobacco excise might not be enough to lure smokers back to legal cigarettes, and could even widen the multi-billion dollar hole blown in the budget by the booming illicit trade, new research shows.The analysis from the e61 Institute comes as Jim Chalmers revealed next week’s mid-year fiscal update will reveal an extra $12.7bn in unanticipated spending, including an additional $6.3bn in higher than expected disaster relief payments. Continue reading...