The tax is well in excess of the estimated cost to the health system, its no different to the tax on petrol - nothing like what is gathered is spent on road infrastructure. It's just become part of the consolidated revenue.
Funny how this used to annoy me when I was a smoker but not now .
it doesn't annoy me that it's taxed to crap, but it does annoy me when peoPle say smokers don't pull their weight, as for long waiting lists that would be down to gov over smokers problem. As shown above the gov makes close too $62b from smokers over ten years yet the cost smoking to the health system is $35b over ten years according to the budget. So if that money was being used on hospitals not ahit like $44b broadband networks you could be happy people smoke lol. Saves none smokers alot tax, host portals being over crowded is government failings as explained smoking revenue is big enough to solve many of those issues. Smokers can't be blamed for everything, but hey why not treat smokers who getill. Or the stupid kid who breaks his arm frOm riding a skate board because it's dangerous. The truth of the matter is a smoker pays $1600 a year on average more tax than some one else on the same wage who is a none smoker. If they weren't being taxed that much you would be
There's a constant debate over the tax vs. costs between the scare mongerers and the tobacco industry - not exactly an industry that's trustworthy!!
But, at it's simplest, the tax on fags is 62.5% (excise plus GST). Someone spending $20.00 a day smoking pays $4500.00 extra tax a year. That's more than I pay for private health cover.
Anyway, back on topic, and sorry for mentioning the tax issue originally as it is a hotly debated area but best not debated here.
No smoking in my pinball room!
