QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:03): I again say to you, first, this is a criminal problem that requires states and territories and the governments to work together. Senator Ruston: Oh, blame the state! Senator WONG: Well, it does.

I would also remind those opposite that you supported a 215 per cent, in total, increase to the excise. In fact, in the debate on the bill that increased the price of cigarettes by taxation Senator Ruston talked how this is 'one of the most effective ways of reducing tobacco consumption and preventing the uptake of smoking'. That was Senator Ruston.

Senator Hume said, 'The coalition is particularly proud of these bills, which will increase the tobacco excise.' She went on to say: Some commentators suggest that tobacco control interventions … increase this illicit trade. There is, in fact, no reliable evidence that this is the case. So I would make the point that this has been a policy that has had bipartisan support.

(Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Duniam, second supplementary?