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This story was selected and curated by our editorial team in the Australia news category. Published on September 3, 2026 • Originally reported by Nick Visser. OMEGAZEPRIME provides independent news coverage and analysis for our readers. Stay informed with the latest developments.
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Coalition says main focus of tobacco excise cut is tackling organised crime
Anne Ruston, the shadow minister for health and aged care, spoke this morning to tout the Coalition’s plans to slash the tobacco excise by 80%, saying the effort is designed to “break the business model” of organised crime.
This is very much designed to try and get the government back in control of the nicotine market, not organised crime gangs. …
We are hoping that the combined package of what we’re proposing here, not just the dropping of the excise, but the regulation of the market and making it certainly more difficult for children to access these products. In the enforcement surge and the anti-smoking and anti-vaping campaigns, we are hoping to put downward pressure on smoking rates.
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