Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

I think your suggestion in that question is that we would see an increase in illegal trade. Is that pretty much where you're going? I have to refer again to some of the commentary. I do understand where you're going with your argument, but I have to remind the Senate that this is a bill about plain packaging, and it's a bill about reducing smoking and the harm that smoking creates. I know that you don't want to go there, but I think it's really important to remind the Senate what this particular piece of legislation is about in streamlining the concerns that we have around the amount of smoking that takes place through the forms of packaging that are out there.

I want to go to your previous question as well, Senator Cadell, in terms of illicit tobacco. You did ask a question, and I said I'd take it on notice and I've just been provided with an answer. The 58 operations of the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce have resulted in the seizure and destruction of over 380 tonnes of illicit tobacco and over seven million cigarettes, with an estimated value of $567 million.