Rudds Legacy

Anti-smoking groups, buoyed by a pledge by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to "get serious" about the $35 billion cost of tobacco-related diseases in Australia, are urging him to solve his revenue problem by raising taxes on cigarettes.

Announcing $19.5 million in funding for cancer research in Sydney, Mr Rudd said today that cancer was a "number two killer" in Australia and therefore a "number one priority" for the Government.

"Around 30 per cent of cancer is caused by tobacco consumption and it's estimated this will kill 15,000 Australians each year," Mr Rudd said.

"That is far too many and it's also really expensive for the country to deal with.

"We need to get serious on this major driver of cancer in Australia.

"There is a limit to the number of taxpayer dollars available to health.

"I say again, when it comes to cancer, treating cancer and smoking-related cancers costs the Australian taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars each year and frankly these are funds which we have to raise from the taxpayer."

His comments have sparked speculation that this week's economic statement due to be handed down by Treasurer Chris Bowen could include an increase in the taxes imposed on cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Anne Jones from anti-smoking group ASH welcomed Mr Rudd's comments and said the Government should hike the tax on tobacco to cut smoking rates.

"It's a win-win," Ms Jones said. "It gives the Government revenue and cuts the take-up rates in smoking as well as cutting consumption.

"They'd be crazy not to take [the opportunity]."

Labor last raised the tobacco excise by 25 per cent in April 2010, adding about $2 to the cost of a 30-pack of cigarettes.

The increase was forecast to raise $5.5 billion over four years.

Before that, the last increase in tobacco excise was a 10 per cent hike in 1995-96.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the Government's economic mismanagement means it continually looks to increase taxes to raise revenue.

"My view is we will wait and see," he said.

"But with this Government, it can't control its own spending and it always looks to increase taxes on the Australian people."

debt spiraling out of control?

Spending isn't actually the issue, it is the huge fall in tax receipts as a result of a slower economy

It's smoking. Why would anyone want to see people keep smoking is beyond me.

I also like the Abbott lie about how they keep taxing... the Howard Government were the highest taxing Government in our history, and they were the most profligate wasters of money on top.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/hey-big-spender-howard-the-king-of-the-loose-purse-strings-20130110-2cj32.html

Edited by macktheknife: 31/7/2013 06:01:55 PM

If people want to smoke it's their choice, Why should the government intervene ?

This.

I actually have no problem with this tax.

The problem, mac, with banning smoking would just be too big to work. Firstly massive loss in government tax revenue. Secondly it would lead to a 'black market' making it actually more lethal. Thirdly job loss and fourthly it would add to the line of rhetoric of the government meddling in everything.

Costs the government, and by extension, the taxpayer millions (if not billions) in healthcare.

Perhaps that's more of a problem with socialist healthcare in general

I think maybe you've misinterpreted what I said.

When I said "why anyone would want to keep smoking" I meant an individual.

Obviously smoking is far too big to just ban outright. That doesn't even work with weed and other drugs. I meant "why would any individual what would want to keep smoking", when we know how deadly it is.

I think maybe some kind of rolling age ban might work, maybe put a line in sand saying "anyone born after Jan 1 2014 will not be able to buy smokes."

Spending isn't actually the issue, it is the huge fall in tax receipts as a result of a slower economy. If Australians were paid the same amount of tax as they did under Howard the budget would be over $10b in the black. That's due to a number of measures both discretionary (tripling the tax free threshold) and automatic (many Australians falling into lower tax brackets after the GFC).

As far an higher taxes on cigarettes go, again there are two sides to the same coin. It causes many many needless deaths in Australia so higher taxes could deter new smokers, yet to make those who are already addicted pay more just reduces their standard of living as it wont deter most current smokers.

If the cigarette debate does rear its head again don't be surprised if cannabis gets a mention too.

Edited by imonfourfourtwo: 31/7/2013 05:37:57 PM

Tax receipts are down because small to medium businesses are limping along struggling to keep their head above water......the mining boom is over, manufacturing is collapsing all around Australia, ridiculous compliance issues known as red and green tape are increasing overheads in a time where we need to be ultra competitive, wages have exploded , housing rates and construction are in negative growth figures and we have a PM who is addicted to instagram, facebook and twitter.....

unfortunately for Australia this Government is all talk no action.....

It's smoking. Why would anyone want to see people keep smoking is beyond me.

I also like the Abbott lie about how they keep taxing... the Howard Government were the highest taxing Government in our history, and they were the most profligate wasters of money on top.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/hey-big-spender-howard-the-king-of-the-loose-purse-strings-20130110-2cj32.html

Edited by macktheknife: 31/7/2013 06:01:55 PM

QCU says LNP Government wasting taxpayers' money on ads about changes to Qld's health system
By Francis Tapim
Posted 23 minutes ago

MAP: QLD
The Queensland Council of Unions (QCU) has accused the State Government of secretly using taxpayer funds to explain its unpopular changes to the public hospital system.

The QCU says the Liberal National Party (LNP) is wasting public money on radio ads as part of a political campaign before the federal election.

QCU president John Battams says it is a disgraceful waste of public money by the State Government.

"We think this is outrageous - they have been attacking unions in this state for running publicity campaigns and now they are using taxpayer funds without any warning whatsoever to defend their outrageous privatisation process," he said.

"We want to know exactly how much money is being spent and over what timelines.

"It is not illegal, but they are using taxpayer funds privatisation process which was not mentioned before the election.

"They are trying to justify this process which they lied to the people of Queensland before the election about."

Topics: unions, activism-and-lobbying, health-policy, healthcare-facilities, liberal-national-party-queensland, qld

More stories from Queensland

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/union-says-lnp-wasting-taxpayers-money-on-health-system-ads/4857506?

Opposition fires up at LNP Government over insurance costs rise in Qld

By Francis Tapim
Posted 13 minutes ago

MAP: QLD
Insurance costs are on the rise again in Queensland, with Opposition treasury spokesman Curtis Pitt saying car and mortgage insurance will rise by 4 per cent from today.

Mr Pitt says annual home and contents cover goes up by 1.5 per cent.

"Thanks to the Newman Government, an average household with a couple of cars and mortgage insurance will see an increase of more than $110 a year," he said.

He says last year Treasurer Tim Nicholls had said there would be no taxes in the 2013 budget.

"But the budget in June clearly outlines some insurance taxes that will generate an extra $990 million for the Newman Government over the next four years," Mr Pitt said.

"The Treasurer claimed that in June 2011 that under that government that taxes and charges were out of control.

"But since the LNP government was elected, taxes per Queenslander have gone up $257.

"That equates to more than $1,000 for the average household of four, so we are not hearing any comments from the Treasurer about the LNP's taxes being out of control."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-01/lnp-government-under-fire-over-insurance-costs-rise-in-qld/4857526?

The insurance stamp duty increase is to assist the state in funding the NDIS.

Thanks heaps Labor you fuck!

[size=9]If true that's gold...!!!!!!!![/size]

The insurance stamp duty increase is to assist the state in funding the NDIS.

Thanks heaps Labor you fuck!

Still don't understand how his annual salary is almost on parity with the US President's.

Eh for a good cause then, rather then fueling Newman's next self given pay rise.

-PB

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - A Bangladeshi refugee who is accused of groping a blind woman's breasts on a Sydney train may have assaulted others, a court has heard.
Rubel Sheikh, 25, applied for bail at Parramatta Local Court after he was charged with twice indecently assaulting a young blind woman while she was travelling on a Sydney train last month.

Prosecutor Louise Cummings told the court Sheikh was a refugee who had only been in Australia for a month.
"It's a strong prosecution case, most of it has been captured by CCTV," Ms Cummings told the court on Thursday.
"There's a strong likelihood, if convicted, that he would face a custodial sentence."
She described Sheikh as a flight risk and said three other alleged victims had come forward as a result of the widespread media coverage.
Ms Cummings said Sheikh's immigration status is being investigated, he arrived to Australia by boat and was on a temporary visa.

Sheikh's lawyer Jeff Tunks said he had no family or support network in Australia, spoke little English and had told him he was here on a tourist visa.
A public tip-off led to his arrest after police released CCTV footage of the 23-year-old woman, who told police she had been touched on her breast in an lift at Ashfield, in Sydney's inner west, on July 17.
She later felt a hand on her breast while she was on a train in the city's south, between Jannali and Sutherland railway stations.

Magistrate Les Brennan, who refused bail, said it was an unusual assault.
"This young lady has been followed a great distance," he said.
"Much of the time unaware what's going on because of the disability."
The case will return to Central Local Court on August 6.


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/man-charged-with-assaulting-blind-woman/story-e6frfku9-1226689220329#ixzz2ahDHykLu

>News.com.au

Probably made the whole story up from start to end.

Sheikh's lawyer Jeff Tunks said he had no family or support network in Australia, spoke little English and had told him he was here on a tourist visa