Cigarette Tax To Jump By 13.7% On Monday

[icyfroth]

Cigarette taxes will jump by a hefty 13.7 per cent on Monday, the second of four outsized increases in as many years.

The excise on a pack of 20 will climb from $8.13 to $9.25, an increase of $1.12. The excise on apack of 40 will climb from $16.26 to $18.51.

If fully passed on, it will push the price of a packet of 40 above $30 and push the price of some packets of 20 above $20. The increase means the price of cigarettes for casual smokers will approach $1 a stick.

Labor announced a series of four increases mid-last year, with the first of 12.5 per cent due on December 1 followed by three more on September 1 in each of the following three years.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/a-dollar-to-light-up-smokers-brace-for-another...

"It's also important that the tax increases are accompanying a great deal of publicity about the harms of smoking and measures such as plain packaging."

Yeah sure. Like they give a rat's backside about ppl's health. Main thing is the cash grab. 

[imastawka]

Erica, both hubby and I have been seeing specialists

for over 5 yrs for him and 2 yrs for me.

Out of pocket - nil.   Just signed Medicare forms.

[lind9650]

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@imastawka wrote:

Erica, both hubby and I have been seeing specialists

for over 5 yrs for him and 2 yrs for me.

Out of pocket - nil.   Just signed Medicare forms.

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I don't know where you live, stawka, but I live in rural Victoria. I have been told that I can have free treatment in one of the big city Hospitals, but by their waiting list I may have to wait up to two years. I may be dead by then, and the cost of travelling to the city Hospital would be almost as much as I have to pay now to the Specialist.

No win there even if I could wait.

Erica

[Anonymous]

imastawka...

A specialist that bulk bills. Half your luck.

Makes you wonder how many Low income pass away while 'waiting'

for the public hospital system to care for them.

If they could get rid of most of  the 'oxygen thieves' ( administration

desk jockeys ) they might get help sooner. 

[imastawka]

Erica, I'm in suburban Melbourne.  I understand that the waiting list

may be 2 years for an operation.  But I was only talking about

appointments to check results of tests etc.  Hubby had Prostate

cancer and saw a specialist within a week of diagnosis and operated

on within 2 weeks at the Austin.  They hurried because of the speed of the growth.

He's had radiation treatment and hormone treatment - all free.

Maybe we're lucky then.  I don't know.

To stay on topic - I don't smoke, gave up 8 years ago.

Best thing I ever did.

[tezza2844]

Does that mean that smoking Joe will remove this mean money grabbing Labor tax ? and allow everyone to enjoy the pleasures of emphysema

[boris1gary]

I think tax should be increased the same for alcohol, there is a budgie emergency after all and alcohol related costs to both health and wider community problems are increasing. 4 word slogan - Make The Drunks Pay.

[karliandjacko]

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@icyfroth wrote:

Labor announced a series of four increases mid-last year, with the first of 12.5 per cent due on December 1 followed by three more on September 1 in each of the following three years.

"It's also important that the tax increases are accompanying a great deal of publicity about the harms of smoking and measures such as plain packaging."

Yeah sure. Like they give a rat's backside about ppl's health. Main thing is the cash grab. 

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Yeah sure, that's why they introduced plain packaging and why they no longer accept donations from tobacco companies.

[go-tazz]

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@am*3 wrote:

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@lionrose.7 wrote:

I would gladly pay $7 for a doctors Visit I pay $37 in NZ

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Hop on a plan rosie, you're in the wrong country.

Medicare funded Bulk Bill clinics are free now, no need to burden the low income or chronically ill anymore financially, especially those trying to eke out a existence on a Govt pension.

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Unless you live in some country Victorian towns,(we pay $18 for each visit on top of what they get from medicare).

We also pay around a third of specialist fees,(full payment up front and then claim the rebate from medicare).

No Medicare office here,so we have to do it after the specialists visit.

We do get assistance for travel costs when going to Melbourne or Geelong,(but that can take up to 4 months to

get to the bank account).

Makes it a long day though,(three and a half hours both ways).

[j*oono]

If they really cared about the health of smokers then it would be made illegal.  No matter how you look at it it's just another cash grab from people that are unable to curb their addiction.   

It is not easy to give up smoking, in fact for a while it is quite depressing.  I feel sorry for seniors that have few pleasures left and now they can't even afford a quiet smoke.

Yes, I do think it would be so much better if they didn't smoke but reality tells me just give it a rest.

[cherry*135]

Make it illegal ---->> black market. Not really a solution is it? Best for people to be able to decide themselves to give it up or not.

Might need a income as high as Hockey's though to be able to afford cigarettes in the future.