STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms ALDRED (Monash—Opposition Whip) (13:51): Nearly 300 firebombings, a terrorist attack, bikie gangs, multiple murders and retail staff bashed on their job—funded by $6 billion a year that is not evaporating; it's funding the threatening of the safety of Australians every day. That's $15 billion a year less, not going to roads, schools and hospitals. But, according to this government, there's nothing to see here; the current approach is working; it's all fine.

Well, it's not, so let's deal with the facts. ABS figures show illegal tobacco has hit 80 per cent of total sales, while nicotine use per person has risen 50 per cent in just 4½ years. If you care about public health outcomes, you should care about this.

Criminologists like Dr James Martin say loud and clear that, when a black market gets to the point it has with illegal tobacco in Australia, you cannot police your way out of it. Respiratory specialist Dr Nick Coatsworth recently said: We need to cut tobacco excise, shift more smokers to vapes to reduce harm, and increase campaigns to stop young people from taking up vaping.

And we need to do all three. That's why the coalition will slash the excise tax by 80 per cent; invest in the tools and technology for police enforcement; help smokers quit, through a legal vape framework; and reinvigorate antismoking campaigns and education. And we will do it.