Interesting Insight into Oz Tobacco

[VDL_Piper]

Crooks, black market and impotent policing, what could possibly go wrong.

If smoking rates have 'flatlined' why are tobacconists 'popping up everywhere'? The maths, it seems, is up in smoke

Australia's tobacco excise is "well past its point of effectiveness", according to one expert, who says it's pushing smokers onto the black market, hurting retailers and taxpayers.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Unjust laws aren't laws at all.

 

[OzPiper]

History showed us that Prohibition didn’t work. Just played into the hands of mobsters

This Neo-prohibition is doomed to the same fate.
Governments just don’t learn from history

 

[Non-Mentholated Black Man]

The fact that people think the government is the solution, rather than the cause of the problem(s), guarantees that things will only get worse.


"We really need some regulation around it. We need to have licences."
~ Russell Fitzpatrick, a typical politician, who believes that government is the Great God.

"It's hugely frustrating and I've spoken to politicians both Liberal and Labor about it."
~ David Allen, a hotel owner, who wants the government to ensure his profits.

"If I wasn't doing the right thing, I'd be a millionaire by now."
~ Mat Evans, the only NSW cigarette wholesaler, who wants the government to make him rich.

 

[Servant King]

Governments just don’t learn from history

They do. It's just obscured by their sadism.

government is the Great God.

In effect, it is. That's what "In God We Trust" on US currency means. Different god than the One everyone thinks this refers to! It's what a long departed teacher of mine repeatedly referred to as "the perfect swindle."

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

Governments just don’t learn from history

Megalomaniacs.

 

[alaskanpiper]

They’ve got Footy though. Frank love Footy.

 

[Sigmund]

And the brilliant lawmakers didnt see that comming.

 

[fireground_piper]

And the brilliant lawmakers didnt see that comming.

I feel like it must be a combination of “it’s not technically illegal” and “no one is going to go black market for tobacco products”.

 

[Sigmund]

There is only a limited market for black market tobacco but if you make it super expensive you create one.


When opportunity knocks.....

 

[woodsroad]

Politicians seldom seek to solve problems. They seek to appear to solve problems. That way they don’t piss off the people than profited from the problem in the first place.

 

[AroEnglish]

I feel bad for the legitimate sellers but I think their frustration should primarily be directed at the government.

 

[anotherbob]

I feel like it must be a combination of “it’s not technically illegal” and “no one is going to go black market for tobacco products”.

apparently black market tobacco has a long history and especially large share in Oz well before taxes went crazy on tobacco. First rule everyone wants to save a buck and buck the system to some extent. You can find varies forms of black market tobacco in most countries. It's rarely to the extent though that's been reported in Oz for whatever reason.

 

[Auxsender]

Some government regulation is necessary, especially in places where unregulated capitalists will destroy everything (economy, air, water healthcare, education) for a buck like they do in USA.
Australia's self made black market tobacco problem is obviously the result of regulation gone amok and some of it should be reversed.
This reminds me of the California legal pot market. They did the same thing there by taxing pot so heavily, it caused the black market to thrive.
Dummies.

 

[forloveoffreedom]

10 billion in tobacco taxes for a country of 27.4 million at a %10 smoker rate? What a terribly interesting and mind blowing article. Thanks for sharing and Im so sorry for all those pipe smokers.

 

[ClinchKnot]

“When asked why, he hesitates and says it's because of the wave of firebombings just across the border.”

Firebombings? In Australia? What?…

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

There is only a limited market for black market tobacco but if you make it super expensive you create one.


When opportunity knocks.....

Thats the case here in Finland now, black market for cigarettes is flourishing

 

[Brendan]

“When asked why, he hesitates and says it's because of the wave of firebombings just across the border.”

Firebombings? In Australia? What?…

We never stopped importing convicts

 

[kcghost]

Crying for the government to step in is the road to the big nanny state. When they come in you will wish that you hadn't of complained.

 

[didimauw]

I spoke to a real life friend (you guys are imaginary) two days ago who confirmed tobacco in OZ is atleast 5x more than in my state in the US.

I've been keeping up with the tobacco purchases as much as possible for the past 5 years, just in case.