WIMMERA smokers could pay more than $40 for a pack of cigarettes under a new federal Labor proposal.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The party has announced it would increase the tobacco tax by four times each year, until 2020, if it wins the next election.
The changes would have a big impact on Wimmera residents, as data released in October 2013 found the Grampians region had the highest adult smoking rate in the county at 28 per cent.
East Grampians Health Service chief executive Nick Bush said he welcomed the increase.
“I am totally in support of this as it is a good initiative,” he said.
“The link between smoking and poor health has been well-document and there will be a decrease in cigarette use if this happens.
Mr Bush said an increase in tax would encourage more people to give up smoking.
“The evidence shows that people will stop,” he said.
“Anything we can do to deter people from smoking is a good move.”
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said under the current policy settings, a pack of 25 cigarettes that costs $24.69 today would cost $29.91 in 2020 but Labor’s plan would see the pack cost $40.80.
The proposal comes after the Labor Party introduced the tobacco excise back in 2013, which has seen a 12.5 per cent increase in the price of cigarettes annually over four years.
In the same year the national smoking rate among adults was 13.3 per cent.
West Wimmera Health Service chief executive John Smith said the tax increase could lead to better promotion of healthy lifestyles.
“If it can be proven that an increase will lead to people smoking less,” he said.
“It is hard when people have addictions, but if it’s something the industry is supportive of and people are willing to work on the problem, it will certainly help.”
Mr Smith said it was important that any money raised through the tax increase was put back into healthcare.
Opposition health spokeswoman Catherine King said while she was aware the move would affect poorer members of the community, it was a necessary step to take.