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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Patrick Commins, Anne Davies and Benita Kolovos

Chalmers says cheaper cigarettes will not solve illegal tobacco boom, dismissing NSW premier

A shop assistant arranges shelves of cigarette packets
The high taxes on tobacco are causing people who would never usually break the law to buy illegal tobacco, the NSW premier Chris Minns says. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Jim Chalmers says making cigarettes cheaper will not solve the booming trade in illegal tobacco, dismissing the call by the New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, to slash taxes on smoking.

Minns joined Victoria’s state government in blaming the high tobacco excise for a spike in organised crime that has led to arson attacks on businesses and stretched police resources.

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