What we're talking about

Mylene on Man's gang-bashing 'unprovoked' @Janet Page. You mean the era of the razor gangs, the bodgies and widgies, the mods and rockers, the sharpies and the skins ... more
janet page on Man's gang-bashing 'unprovoked' Mylene more
Mylene on Man's gang-bashing 'unprovoked' Name the year when traveling on a suburban train at night was safe? If you think this is new you've never caught a train. ... more
Lenny on No more gay life for Kookaburra This is typical PC bulls--t gone mad~! This stuff is being driven by the 'men haters' in Community Services in an ... more
VivKay on 'Cross-dressing' killer walks free Life is cheap in Australia. Due to the high cost of prisons, criminals are being given light sentences. There are too many ... more
janet page on 'Cross-dressing' killer walks free Great message to send out to people who kill, just tell the Judge you a Cross Dresser, and you go Free. more
janet page on Porn sites 'only for work purposes' Yeh right' Pull the other one Fred it plays Jingle Bells. more
Corallee on No more gay life for Kookaburra This is a sad indictment on the teaching profession. Whatever happened to teaching children the meaning of words? If there ... more
Andrew on Bert and Patti open up on Matthew I have met Matt on a few occasions and he has always come across as a warm and friendly person. I am sorry to heard of his ... more
Lenny on Costings black hole may sink Coalition Gerard, I LOVE your style~! When you've been caught with your pants down & all else fails, quote directly from the ... more
John Robertson on Paul Hogan interview 'broke law' The Police spent 30 million to convict one det on criminal charges .Now we have police offering to do hits for money as well ... more
JOHN from Heathmont on Newton's woes still making waves Peter Ford obviously has some allegiance to tne Newtons. You can criticise Nicole Kidman and others but dont dare criticise ... more
jon on Costings black hole may sink Coalition Can someone change the photo at the top of this page its offensive and making me feel sick! more
jon on Costings black hole may sink Coalition Oh dear Gerard, the waste. The waste was the surplus sitting in Johnnies piggy bank and not being invested on Australia ... more
Luke on Costings black hole may sink Coalition Has anyone thought about how long it will take to repay the ever increasing debt created by the labor party's current ... more
jon on 'Melbourne Idol' for CBD Buskers Robert Doyle is a complete control freak, next thing you know there will be a dress code for the CBD!! more
Luke on No more gay life for Kookaburra Normally I hate manipulating the language to suit the PC mafia, but in this case I think it is appropriate to change the ... more
Matt - proudly Un-Australian on No more gay life for Kookaburra Fair enough, for far too long white Anglo men beleived they can say anything to put other people down & it was just "words". ... more
Pauline on No more gay life for Kookaburra and Mylene, you are pricelessly funny! more
Pauline on No more gay life for Kookaburra Ian James! The 'hi jacking' of the word Gay originates from the screwball comedy 'Bringing up Baby' with Cary Grant and ... more

Smokers might feel more pain

Posted by: Luca Gonano for 3AW.com.au | 6 July, 2009 - 9:26 AM

The federal government is examining whether a significant increase in the price of cigarettes is a viable option in the battle to stop smokers smoking.

The National Preventative Health Taskforce has suggested an increase in the tax on cigarettes to more than $20 a packet and a move to plain packaging might be the answer to reducing smoking rates.

The taskforce has called on the government to cut smoking rates over the next decade to 9 per cent.

Figures put forward believe a tax increase to dissuade 306,000 adults from smoking and in turn prevent 183,000 children eventually taking up the habit.

Smokers, what do you think? Would the tax increases be fair?

Blog comments

It so unfair!!!

seka Tuesday 7 July, 2009 - 7:52 PM
Fascism in the making.Political correctness, and control seems, where we are headed...freedom of choice is a dieing breed!
I guess Something needs to pay for our broke economy and Rudd's frequent Flyer program.
Tax beer and Petrol again next week, its a revenue bonanza!!!

Ben Tuesday 7 July, 2009 - 7:31 PM
I've been given up for about 9 weeks I'm using the patches today i started on the 3rd step patch which is the last stage, i'm discusted the last stage of my quit program is more expencive then the first 2 stages.Someone should look into this as some people may just stop there program because they cant afford to finish it and probably start smoking again.

michelle Tuesday 7 July, 2009 - 5:11 PM
I am a smoker and am battling to quit this filthy, expensive and potentally deadly habit.

I beleive that raising to cost of smokes is a fantastic deterant.

Naomi Tuesday 7 July, 2009 - 2:10 PM
The government has no place directing peoples personal choice behaviours. I agree with the previous comment this is a well disguised tax grab. This is an infringement on peoples right to make decisions in their personal life. Bring out the freedom fighters. Less government intervention and more anarchy.

Josh Tuesday 7 July, 2009 - 1:05 PM
The only reason that the government would increase the tax is another money grab. I am a non-smoker but am not fooled by their cunning disguised tax.

sandy Monday 6 July, 2009 - 5:08 PM