Labor tackles dishonest GST push

Labor tackles the Coalition’s ‘dishonest’ debate on the goods and services tax, proposing a 12.5% rise in tobacco excise every year for four yearsA packet of cigarettes will cost more than $40 under Labor’s policy to raise the tobacco excise by 12.5% a year for four years.

Plain packaging to thank for Australia's decline in smoking, says Labor

The opposition leader, Bill Shorten, will on Tuesday confirm the policy, which will raise $3.8bn in the first four years and $47.7bn over a decade – revenue that starts to build Labor’s argument there are budget alternatives to raising the goods and services tax.

Under current policy, a pack of 25 cigarettes costs about $24.69 today and will cost $29.91 in 2020. Under Labor’s proposed policy, it would cost $40.80 in 2020.