Treasury considering changes to Australia’s contentious tobacco excise, as calls grow for a freeze

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 1 min read 100% complete by Patrick Commins Economics editorFebruary 15, 2026 at 03:00 PM

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The Australian Treasury is considering changes to the country's tobacco excise due to concerns about its impact on the black market. Calls are growing for a freeze on the excise, which has increased by 60% since 2020 and now represents three-quarters of the cost of legal cigarettes. The Treasury is currently modelling the relationship between cigarette prices and demand, a process experts say is necessary to evaluate potential reforms. This examination of "price elasticity" aims to inform decisions about the excise, given the rise of illicit tobacco trade. The e61 Institute suggests this analysis is a crucial step before implementing any changes to the current excise regime.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Federal Government 40% e61 Institute 50% Lachlan Vass 60% Australia 70% Treasury ×280%

Keywords

tobacco excise 100% cigarette prices 80% black market 70% treasury 60% price elasticity 50% tax 40% reforms 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral

Score: -0.10

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Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

85%

Geographic Perspective

Australia

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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