Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

The government recognises that the black economy is unfair and that it imposes significant costs on the community as a whole and on the economy. It creates an uneven playing field for business, fosters a culture of tax evasion and welfare fraud and undermines the integrity of Australia's regulatory procurement and migration systems and facilitates criminal activity, including organised crime, money laundering, illicit tobacco and illegal gambling. The package of measures the government has announced to combat the illicit tobacco trade and protect the integrity of Australia's tobacco excise system targets those who are doing the wrong thing. The government recognises that most people in businesses in our community are doing the right thing. The package of measures the government has announced to combat the illicit tobacco trade and protect the integrity of Australia's tobacco excise system therefore seeks to reduce regulation for honest Australians by better targeting those doing the wrong thing.