Leyonhjelm reveals the truth about tobacco costings

Liberal Democrats Senator David Leyonhjelm today called on both major parties to stop picking on smokers, after revealing his own costings provided by the Parliamentary Budget Office.

The Liberal Democrats vehemently oppose tax hikes on smoking, and have supported the right of smokers to make their own choices for 15 years.

In the interests of transparency, Senator Leyonhjelm today released his own costings from the Parliamentary Budget Office.

“Our costings suggest Labor’s claim of a $47 billion tax hike imposed on smokers over ten years, supposedly based on a PBO costing from before MYEFO, would have been supported by the PBO after MYEFO,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.

“This will mean very little to smokers who already contribute more than 17 times what they cost to taxpayers. All increasing tobacco taxes does is hurt the poor and promote illegal sales. We are promising smokers that we will do all in our power to prevent the introduction of tax increases that take cigarettes to $40 a pack, and will actively campaign for smokers’ support in the election.”

The Sydney Morning Herald reported this story, providing extra detail and context.