Bill Shorten to confirm Labor plan to increase tobacco taxes

Mr Turnbull and Treasurer Scott Morrison have consistently said no decisions have been made on tax changes.

A Newspoll in The Australian today shows his support as preferred prime minister sits at a Simon Crean-like 15 per cent. Malcolm Turnbull was the preferred prime minister among 64 per cent of respondents.

Government minister Jamie Briggs said voters had given up on listening to the negativity of Mr Shorten, telling Sky News the opposition leader had created a “great big hole of his own digging and his own making”.

Under Labor’s plan a pack of cigarettes would cost $40.80 compared to the current $24.69 by 2020.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said aside from discouraging smokers from buying cigarettes it will portray the policy as an example of “reform with purpose”.

The results will inform a national campaign, due early next year, which aims to change attitudes around gender equality – and get parents and teachers to take more responsibility for how young people think about violence.

“Labor wants to reduce the number of people who smoke; Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberals want to increase the GST and the cost of everything, including fresh food, school fees and going to the doctor”, he said.

“It’s a drain on the health system and a drag on the economy”, he said.

The tobacco excise will continue to increase by four 12.5% increases from July 1, 2017 if the opposition wins the next federal election, which will align our policies with countries such as France, The United Kingdom and New Zealand which sees 75% of the cost of a packet is tax.

Currently, a packet of 25 cigarettes costs around $25 to $30 with the price increase corresponding with advice from the World Health Organisation. Turnbull’s satisfaction level rose from 56% to 60%, in the wake of his first major overseas trip during which he attended three summits. The Coalition’s primary vote stayed on 46%; Labor’s vote was down a point to 33%.

If the poll result was replicated in an election, Labor would suffer a defeat of a similar magnitude to 2013.