Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I would like to thank senators who've made a contribution to this debate. Together the Excise Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2024 and Customs Tariff Amendment (Tobacco) Bill 2024 apply to all tobacco goods subject to excise duty and excise equivalent tobacco goods subject to customs duty and will increase the excise in customs duty on tobacco goods by five per cent each year for three years.

These bills also align the excise and customs duty rate for tobacco goods subject to the per kilogram rate, with a duty rate applying to the average per stick tobacco content of cigarettes. This alignment will be implemented progressively over four years, from 1 September 2023, ensuring all tobacco products generally have equivalent tax treatment regardless of their form. These changes support the National Tobacco Strategy, in line with the government's aim of continuing to reduce tobacco consumption.

I commend these bills to the Senate.

Question agreed to.