QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr BUTLER (Hindmarsh—Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Minister for Health and Ageing and Deputy Leader of the House) (14:49): I thank the member again for another question on this topic. The question asked whether I would admit that more Australians are smoking illicit than licit cigarettes, and we do. It's quite apparent from every piece of data that the illicit share of tobacco smoking has grown.

I don't think anyone can deny that. We've been very clear about that. The quote the member read from Premier Minns—I haven't seen the report or the premier's comment—says that the premier says that more people are smoking per se rather than smoking illicit cigarettes.

I don't agree with that. The Institute of Health and Welfare, which has been the statutory authority under governments of both political persuasions for many years says otherwise as well. I've heard some, I think including the member, quarrel with the institute's capability to deal with this—that, because it's an illicit product being smoked, somehow, the institute has no ability to measure illicit tobacco smoking.

I'll point out that the institute has, for years and years, been the authoritative source on cocaine, on heroin and on marijuana. I think it is capable of measuring illicit tobacco use, and I think that we should all be glad that the authoritative body, set up under statute and supported at least until today by both major political parties, has said that daily adult smoking rates over the last three years have declined by about half a million.

Opposition members interjecting— Mr BUTLER: I've being asked by about 30 people at the moment on whether we agree with the premier's statements about the impact of the excise. I've answered this question about my view on the excise policy clearly. Excising increased by 215 per cent under those opposite; it's increased by a little less than 40 per cent under this government.

Happily, smoking rates are coming down, but, clearly, we have a huge law-and-order issue in front of us which we are taking on in a way that the former government did not. It's $350 million of additional resources on the border and partnering with state governments. I will also be clear, as I was yesterday, that we need some of the states to do more than they have been doing.

The Queensland LNP government and the South Australian government are rightly recognised as leaders in this area, giving their authorities powers to close the shops and to go after landlords. Frankly, New South Wales and Victoria have been too late coming to the party on this, which is why their problem is worse than what you'll see in Queensland or South Australia.

The SPEAKER: Is the Manager of Opposition Business seeking to table a document? Mr Tehan: I'd like to table the quote from Chris Minns which says that smoking rates are going up. Mr Burke: Leave is not granted.