‘80 per cent of the market’: Tobacco tax blamed for booming black market

Sky News host Caleb Bond argues Australia’s record tobacco taxes have handed the cigarette market to organised crime, accusing the federal government of refusing to acknowledge its own role.

“Now I’ve often spoken about the extortionate tobacco tax on this program and how it’s exploded the illicit tobacco market,” Mr Bond said.

“80 per cent of the market now, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

“The tax has to be cut, but the federal government just refuses to admit it’s part of the problem.

“Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff … he’s now explicitly called for the federal government to cut the tax.”