Extra tax on tobacco what next?

[snappy]

Originally Posted by robbyg

Sam it really is, they say its more addictive than herroine and drugs like that, patches on tomorrow mourning, try again

I with you there bought some patches today hopfully my hate for kevin rudd will help me to quit . Because i dont want to help that little knob jockey one bit buy handing him some more of my hard earned dollars . So he can flush it down the toilet that is if the pipes not block by the billions he put down there allready .

[FGII-XR6]

good luck

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

Rejoice! I'm kicking the fags next week, may 8th, my 21st. Don't want to smoke any more, and can't afford it anyway. And health problems. At least this tax is one I have a choice to pay or not.

[Iggypoppin']

Does anyone know how much the typical 35 pack is going up to?

[burnz]

i'll give it a week before the black market takes up the challenge

[snappy]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

Does anyone know how much the typical 35 pack is going up to?

pack of 30's is going up an average of $2.15 it various from brand to brand

[alscall]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

Instead of taxing tobacco to fund stuff, cut the pollies wages and rorts they've got.

Chances of that happening. Nun and bucklies

As for smokers being a burdon on the health system. Doubt it. We pay enough in tobacco taxes ovwer the years to cover out medical expenses in our later lives. So what's the problem there? People don't smoke, or give it up, where's the gov't going to get the money from for the health system? Introduce a healthy diet tax?

How true...

The average smoker on a pack of day already pays about $6 per pack in tax. Now it'll be $8. That's $8 x 7 x 52 = $2912 a YEAR!! That's some health insurance policy!

What about people like me, who already pay private health insurance? Shouldn't I be exempt becaus I'm already paying?

[Revolver]

I will offer my blunt, insensitsitve opinion,

Though I have to say I only heard about this today (& implemented at 0.00), I cant understand why it was so short in its announcement. As a pure conspiracy, so that no one had time to say, "gotta give this up in 3 months before thie increase", so they could milk the cow with both hands, plus a partners hands.

Working in a servo, I always hear about the price of them, even comparing against woolies/safeway & coles, etc. I have always wondered why are you complaining? "Your just pulling out a $20 note & burning it" literally. But you wont physically pull one out of your pocket & light it would you? My dads a smoker, & has tried to 'give up' countless times. Everytime he tries, he lasts about 24hrs, & when he restarts, he says he has too much stress in his life (I have noticed this as a common excuse, not a reason among smokers that I have asked why they do).

Now without getting into a sympathetic sob story, I have just as much stress if not alot more than most people (especially dad). As a start, financially I barely get by working 7 days a week (but im working on that problem in the spare time I get). I dont smoke, how have I coped with my stress? or any other non-smoker for that matter? I just dont get it. I used to shoot competitively & that helped the stress I can tell you! However time & money wise, I just cant at the moment & haven in quite some time. So I just handle my stress. Some cant. Everyones different & I suppose thats the bit I cant get in my head.

To me If you dont like the hike, get something else to relieve the stress & save money, or have something to show for it!But I suppose once your hooked....... Thats what as a non-smoker I just cant understand, I havent been there so I can't know.

However after all that, I still cant logically comprehend a 25% hike in such a very short time. But its a government decision.

[uranium_death]

I am not massively against a tax on cigarettes, but damn, RTDs (which I do not buy anyway) have not gone down at all.
Even beer in the past 12-18 months has increased by 20%. It's ratshit.

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

Rejoice! I'm kicking the fags next week, may 8th, my 21st. Don't want to smoke any more, and can't afford it anyway. And health problems. At least this tax is one I have a choice to pay or not.

Best wishes in quitting. If you are irritable and need to blast somebody, just send me abusive PMs.

[uranium_death]

Okay...

On Star Control II (greatest PC game ever) there is a race called the Druuge. They are piggish humanoid creatures who are greedy. The planet is owned by the 'Crimson Corporation'. Every single Druuge from birth is employed by the corporation and in effect, owned by it too.
The corporation owns all commodities on the planet and frowns upon debt. To avoid debt, one must work for the corporation. In effect, working for the corporation gives the individual the right to drink water and even breathe air.

Once they stop working, they are in effect stealing air. As a result, they are thrown in the furnaces, which provides power to the massive industries in action on the planet.

I simply wonder how long until we live under this regime...

[Falcon Coupe]

Another tax to save smokers from them self, I think they used the same line for last five or so hikes. They rely on the tax revenue from smokers, I'd hazard a guess they make a bunch more then it cost's in hospitals.

But most people know it's been pushed through quick to take attention away from the ETS back flip, any more and we'd have circus Oz running the show...oh hang on.

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by uranium_death

I am not massively against a tax on cigarettes, but damn, RTDs (which I do not buy anyway) have not gone down at all.
Even beer in the past 12-18 months has increased by 20%. It's ratshit.



Best wishes in quitting. If you are irritable and need to blast somebody, just send me abusive PMs.

Consider it done!

[DOC]

Originally Posted by robbyg

Sam it really is, they say its more addictive than herroine and drugs like that, patches on tomorrow mourning, try again

they said 1/3 would quit ?, that will not happen as they know only a small number can quit if at all, money grab.

As for quitting, it is very easy and it is all just a mind game. Those ads on TV saying you need quit a bait are not designed to tell you the truth, they are pumped out to alter your thinking the nasty Nico bugs will bite, all mind conditioning and cods wallop as you do not need any of it.

They would like you to think you do and believe this you now even have a path selection it's that important. If you believe that crap that is.

All you need is some chew-able vitamin c to help with the withdrawal and lots of clean filtered water, nothing more , well maybe a bag of lolly snakes in the first week for busy fingers and you good to go.

The biggest thing is not the craving but the habits formed, you will find you will without thinking shift the ashtray, pick up the empty smoke packet, walk to where you used to smoke.

[snappy]

Originally Posted by Blue Beast II

I will offer my blunt, insensitsitve opinion,

Though I have to say I only heard about this today (& implemented at 0.00), I cant understand why it was so short in its announcement. As a pure conspiracy, so that no one had time to say, "gotta give this up in 3 months before thie increase", so they could milk the cow with both hands, plus a partners hands.

Working in a servo, I always hear about the price of them, even comparing against woolies/safeway & coles, etc. I have always wondered why are you complaining? "Your just pulling out a $20 note & burning it" literally. But you wont physically pull one out of your pocket & light it would you? My dads a smoker, & has tried to 'give up' countless times. Everytime he tries, he lasts about 24hrs, & when he restarts, he says he has too much stress in his life (I have noticed this as a common excuse, not a reason among smokers that I have asked why they do).

Now without getting into a sympathetic sob story, I have just as much stress if not alot more than most people (especially dad). As a start, financially I barely get by working 7 days a week (but im working on that problem in the spare time I get). I dont smoke, how have I coped with my stress? or any other non-smoker for that matter? I just dont get it. I used to shoot competitively & that helped the stress I can tell you! However time & money wise, I just cant at the moment & haven in quite some time. So I just handle my stress. Some cant. Everyones different & I suppose thats the bit I cant get in my head.

To me If you dont like the hike, get something else to relieve the stress & save money, or have something to show for it!But I suppose once your hooked....... Thats what as a non-smoker I just cant understand, I havent been there so I can't know.

However after all that, I still cant logically comprehend a 25% hike in such a very short time. But its a government decision.

How about i put this i a perspective you may understand because the thing you wrote was dribble stress is the excuse for dad to keep his pride.

If i went with out food,water,smokes for a day or 2 and you put

water some food and a cigerette in front of me i would choose the smoke everytime .
Its a addiction with out a cigerette life is hell . This is the reality about ten years ago i made a choice to have a smoke or 2 or ten whatever to me every other day there has been no choice i continued smoking so i would feel normal as in like you normally would . To quit a desicion has to be made to fight the addiction to put up with withdrawl symptoms for a month or 2 by the way last time i attempted to quit i lost my cool told my boss to go ******** himself and lost my job as a result.
And the addiction makes you think you dont want to quit . It makes you think you enjoy smoking .

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by snappy

They question is why is he doing this .
I wonder if it got anything to do with the henry review all what ever its called sitting on his desk since december. I will bet money there will be a backflip on the plain packaging because the smoke squad have called there lawyers and if we lose we will have to compensate the cigerette companys million or billion dollars cant remember exactly.

Thing is smokers are a easy target and the goverment dont mind milking us at all.

Cigarettes, by my calculation, are now going to be about $10 in just excise, the other $5 is for the manufacturers. How did I figure this? Well a pack of 30 is going up about $2.15 - a tax increase of 25%. 25% of $8 is $2. The overall sell price will be about $15 for a pack of 30.
I think with a tax take of about 65% of the price that it is obvious the government is using smokers as a cash cow. The extra money will be dumped into general revenue and likely not spent on specific things like healthcare. Rudd and co don't give an aeronautical act of intercourse about it - despite their public justifications for jacking up taxes - they just want to spew out an excuse to keep the masses happy. If they want people to stop smoking - ban them. The extra tax to "discourage" smokers is rubbish - they just know people will keep paying for them because they are hooked. Same with booze and petrol - price goes up, demand drops only slightly and the coffers are filled.

[snappy]

pauljh74 last i heard the tax on smokes is over 300%

[4Vman]

They've got to repay the so called "stimulus package" handout somehow.....

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by zdcol71

My response has nothing to do with the hipocrisy of selling a legal addictive drug and raking in billions in taxes on it, rather,lessening the burden on an underfunded and inadequate health system that is bogged down treating and caring for cigarette smokers.

Firstly I smoke but rarely drink.... But I don't go around shouting about the cost to society (and health system) of alcohol related incidents.

Smokers are the current pariahs. However when the social do-gooders have finished with them, drinkers will be next.

[f1tzy]

While i think that it will eventually help people quit, it will only be the heavy smokers as the 1 or 2 pack a week smokers arent going to notice $4 extra a week. The problem i have is how they did it. I'd heard about it a few days ago and thought alright then when they announce the date that will be my goal to quit, but they all of a sudden set it for midnight tonight just to make that extra money out of everyone. Bastards

[Riksta]

I'm glad I just bought a fresh deck!

What I would really love to see is a week or month every year where we REALLY stick it to the government, not smoking, not drinking, and not getting any traffic infringements. Be super super vigilant. This would go for the entire population, and just see how they start reacting when people aren't giving them their revenue through these common means anymore.

That being said, it is so much easier in theory than in real life. Plus, I think Alcohol/Ciggies are a fed tax whereas fine revenue from cameras etc would be state.

I do want to quit smoking at some stage before I'm 30 (July) so maybe this will just be an accelerant towards that.

[Barry_v]

The reason they introduce these things so quickly is to avoid people stockpiling. Personally I love it, its an optional tax that I don't choose to pay.

I've just got home from visiting my partner in hospital. There is a middle aged woman in the same ward with cancer. They've found secondary cancer but havn't yet located the source. In between tests her and her daughter (in her early 20s) slip out the front for a smoke. Another extremely fragile looking old (but not THAT old) lady in a mobility scooter also sits with a cigarette hanging limp out of her lips, occasionally letting out a weak cough and ashing on her hospital gown. It appears her arms are too weak or tired to even perform this simple action with dignity.

do I feel sorry for smokers? Yes! But it sure isn't because they have to pay a few dollars more for cigarettes every budget.

[Romulus]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

They've got to repay the so called "stimulus package" handout somehow.....

Agreed.

As the ETS/CPRS scheme is dead the government needs to recoup it's handouts somehow. Taxing cigarette's is easy as it's done under the guise of getting people to quit. Strange though the government says it will add $5b in revenue. That to me is not a zero sum game if it's relying on people to quit.

Obesity has overtake smoking as the #1 cause of preventable death. That being the case we would surely see a tax/levy/excise imposed on junk food based on Rudd's flawed logic.

Time to take a yearly trip to Dubai and buy duty free cigarettes there.

[JC]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

climate change
rego costs
what pollies doctors and nurses get paid
even the GST
talk about off topic if you don't stay on topic this thread will be closed do you want to discuss this inteligently or what???

Thread title says "what next?". That covers rego costs, and GST. And qld health has nothing to do with federal govt, so not sure how that links in, except to illustrate the waste of some government departments (this would also cover the climate change mob, and wages for pollies etc). Spending our money is directly related to tax increases, so I don't see how anything the government spends on is not fair game; the more they spend, the more they'll tax.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by 4Vman

They've got to repay the so called "stimulus package" handout somehow.....

Aww, and here I thought the government was giving me money for being a good boy.

[svo supporter]

The pollies are just using smokers as an excuse to add in another tax. Pure and simple. All the rest of it is just dribble from their mouths, which they are good at.

I could give plenty of examples where non-smokers are more burdon on the health system than a smoker. But that's moving well off topic.

At the end of the day, it's just typical pollies trying to justify a way to rip people blind and use the "flavour" of the month to do it.

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by svo supporter

At the end of the day, it's just typical pollies trying to justify a way to rip people blind and use the "flavour" of the month to do it.

Then we need a Justin Bieber tax, stat!

[FRDGAL]

Ahh well, one less macca's meal a week to cover the ciggi's hike *shrugs* I did quit after my pneumonia scare, but having Mark walk around me smelling of smoke, lighting ciggi's up etc, made it hard & I quit on quitting. But I still have patches so I'll use them to cut down I guess. I guess Rudd wins both ways with me. I'll still buy some smokes and that $2 extra per pack that I would have bought on the extra ciggi's, well that'll goes towards patches.

It's funny. They say the hike is to help people quit but they know for a fact that every day people take up smoking so really, it's a front. Yeah, people will probably stop because of the costs but others will start and the government still win. 10 stop, 10 start. They get their extra tax and the same amount of people will still be smoking. Make sense?

[SpoolMan]

My wife smokes either she excepts the extra cost or gives up, I would rather see taxes going on these luxury items instead of the things we all really need to live like milk, bread etc.
Unlike our wages this tax is totally voluntary.

[Jason[98.EL]]

well for me as a smoker it is now time to quit

I was only just justifying the cost to the wife but this has made it impossable on part income that i have atm

Jason

[ltd]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Another tax to save smokers from them self, I think they used the same line for last five or so hikes. They rely on the tax revenue from smokers, I'd hazard a guess they make a bunch more then it cost's in hospitals.

But most people know it's been pushed through quick to take attention away from the ETS back flip, any more and we'd have circus Oz running the show...oh hang on.

Ding ding ding ding we have a winner

Simple really, backflip on your biggest policy; divert the idiotic masses' attention by announcing the very next day a policy that will upset these same idiotic masses more, thinly disguised as a health policy.

Australia the clever country?
More like "Australia, a country so dumb its ancestors are famed for the remark; what a lovely wooden horse, of course we'll sign for it".

[dave289]

Originally Posted by JC

Thread title says "what next?". That covers rego costs, and GST. And qld health has nothing to do with federal govt, so not sure how that links in, except to illustrate the waste of some government departments (this would also cover the climate change mob, and wages for pollies etc). Spending our money is directly related to tax increases, so I don't see how anything the government spends on is not fair game; the more they spend, the more they'll tax.

as for the tax I,m sure its one of many we will encounter to compensate for the failings of kevin 07 , and thanks to the dopes who thought it was time for a change and vote for a fool ,when little johnny had things pretty much under control.