Quote:

‘You’re joking’: Wild exchange reveals national crisis as Albanese government denies tobacco tax helps black market A senior Labor minister was asked a simple question about Australia’s exploding black market cigarette market. His answer left a politician speechless The Albanese government has sparked fury by returning a firm “no” when asked if the country’s high tobacco taxes were fuelling a rampant black market. The average price for a legal packet of 20 cigarettes is now more than $40, with each individual cigarette slapped with a $1.49 federal excise, after it was hiked a further 5 per cent in September. Meanwhile, an illegal pack of cigarettes sells $12 or less. Internal tobacco industry figures show illicit tobacco now accounts for 50 per cent of all tobacco sales in Australia, and that figure is expected to reach 80 per cent in 2026. But Labor senator and cabinet minister, Murray Watt, has insisted the tax is not contributing to illicit sales, claiming there’s “no evidence” for it. At Senate estimates on Tuesday, One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts questioned Senator Watt, who was representing Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, about the illegal tobacco trade. “Do you consider the government’s very high tobacco duty as the reason otherwise law-abiding citizens are prepared to buy illegal tobacco, for generally a third of the legal price?” Senator Roberts asked. “No,” came the flat response from Senator Watt. “Any reasons?” asked Senator Roberts. “There’s absolutely no evidence to suggest that argument,” Senator Watt replied. “You’re joking,” said Senator Roberts after a chuckle. “No,” Senator Watt repeated. The One Nation Senator appeared surprised as he pressed further, asking: “No data - just meetings, just ‘no’. Empowering organised crime, decreasing revenue that taxpayers have to make up, and you just say ‘No’?” “Well, you asked me a question and I said, ‘No,’” Senator Watt said. In later comments to News.com.au, Senator Roberts described the response of his Labor counterpart as a “joke”. “Murray Watt’s argument that super high tobacco taxes don’t incentivise Australians to buy black-market smokes is beyond belief,” Senator Roberts said. “It turns government’s public policy positions into a laughingstock if they can’t admit reality. It’s a joke. “The government is completely out of touch with the reality in which Australians are living. People are seeing tobacco taxes as government greed. It’s not about health anymore.” A tobacco industry insider said it was obvious that the excise was turning Aussies toward illicit cigarettes. “It’s frightening that a senior cabinet minister can show such ignorance on basic economics,” said the employee at a major tobacco firm under condition of anonymity. “If you tax something to the moon and criminals sell it for a third of the price, people buy the cheap version. “That’s not controversial - that’s Economics 101. “If Senator Watt doesn’t think price is a factor, then he should state what is driving otherwise law-abiding citizens to buy products from criminals who use the profits to fund other crimes, including human trafficking.” https://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/youre-joking-wild-exchange-reveals-national-crisis-as-albanese-government-denies-tobacco-tax-helps-black-market/news-story/224cd802df9bd868a86868f2dc014418

A carton of B&H 20s $640 at Coles

A carton of B&H 20s from blackmarket $95

I wonder why people buy cheaper smokes that aren't taxed  ::)

Murray Watt, has insisted the tax is not contributing to illicit sales, claiming there’s “no evidence” for it which shows how out of touch he is.

baronvontwit shows why he is an idiot.............  again :D :D

Re OP content.


The proverb say's......
     A Fish Rots From The Head

But imo, it is plain, that every nation gets the political class which it deserves.

The political class of any nation, will always be a reflection of the moral standard of those,
such stewards are drawn from.

Reflection.......
In my memory, Australia was always, far from a perfect society of men.

But today, imo, Australia has >> become << an immoral and shameless society.

Our politicians and judges, are shameless people, imo.


.


Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalteth a nation:
but sin is a reproach to any people.


Forgotten Wisdom......

A moral stance [for young people] that today,
no school or college in this nation,
would ever consider meditating upon.....

Proverbs 1:10
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11  If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12  Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
13  We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14  Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
15  My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
16  For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

Quote:

Murray Watt, has insisted the tax is not contributing to illicit sales, claiming there’s “no evidence” for it which shows how out of touch he is.

Murray Watt is talking outa his arse. Of course it's the exorbitant price that created the huge black market.
What else could it be?

Climate change? Islamophobia against Middle Eastern and Chinese organised crime? Wacism?