‘The policy is not working’: Tobacco excise needs to come down to regain control

Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth says the tobacco excise is no longer working and instead driving the illicit tobacco trade. “Tobacco has never been cheaper in Australia,” Mr Coatsworth said. “I would really like to see that excise come down to 2019 levels or even less. “We have to decrease that differential between the price of legal and illicit tobacco to get control back over this market.”