澳大利亚反对党领袖安格斯·泰勒宣布了一项烟草政策改革方案1。该方案计划将烟草消费税从每包20支烟约30澳元削减至约6澳元，削减幅度达80%1。此外，政策还包括合法化电子烟和尼古丁袋，以及增加2亿澳元的执法拨款1。
卫生专家对这一提议提出了强烈反对。澳大利亚医学协会主席丹妮尔·麦克穆伦表示，"降低烟价不是解决非法烟草贸易的答案"1。专家们警告称，降低烟价将导致更多人吸烟，尤其会对价格敏感的消费群体产生负面影响1。政府社会服务部长塔尼亚·普利伯斯克则批评这一政策是"不计后果的"，并称其"会杀死人"1。
卫生界担忧这项政策将逆转澳大利亚多年来通过烟草税政策实现的吸烟率下降成果。澳大利亚约80%的香烟来自非法市场1。值得注意的是，该国吸烟率在最近一个季度增加了4.9%，这是自2017年以来首次出现增长1。
Australia's opposition leader Angus Taylor has announced plans to slash tobacco excise tax by 80%, cutting the price of a pack of 20 cigarettes from approximately A$30 to about A$6 1. The proposal also includes legalizing e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, along with an additional A$200 million in enforcement funding 1.
Health experts have strongly opposed the policy, warning that lower cigarette prices will drive increased smoking, particularly among price-sensitive populations. Daniel McMullen, president of the Australian Medical Association, stated that "lowering the price of cigarettes is not the answer to addressing the illicit tobacco trade" 1. Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek called the proposal "reckless" and claimed it "will kill people" 1. The current tobacco excise tax stands at approximately A$1.55 per cigarette 1.
The policy comes amid ongoing concerns about illicit tobacco markets, with approximately 80% of cigarettes in Australia sourced illegally 1. Recent data show that smoking rates increased by 4.9% in the last quarter, marking the first increase since 2017 1.
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