The Latest Breaking News from Becky Freeman

Big tobacco is back in town as cigarette tax fight lights up Australian politics

The industry has been pushing for cuts to excise for decades. With the explosion in illegal cigarette sales, those calls have grown louder

The Guardian - AU · Sep 5

Experts weigh in on how to tackle illicit tobacco – and why an 80% excise cut is not on their list

Tougher enforcement and better monitoring products coming into Australia should be considered before lowering taxes, experts say

The Guardian - AU · Sep 4

Smoking rates fall to historic low across Australia despite the rise of illicit tobacco

Long-running AIHW survey shows daily rates of smoking dropped to 5.6% last year – down from 8.3% two years ago

The Guardian - AU · Jul 16

Raising cigarette taxes and tobacco wars have created a ‘serious’ budget problem. What can Labor do about it?

Growing illicit tobacco trade is undercutting the legal market, leaving government coffers short of funds to pay for major policies

The Guardian - AU · Mar 26, 2025

‘They’re Big On Nights Out’: New Study Lifts The Lid On Nicotine Pouch Use Of Young Aussies

The rise of nicotine pouch use is worrying experts who say it's yet another trick from the tobacco industry. So how did we get here?

Pedestrian.tv · Nov 27, 2024

Child vaping sucks away chance of ciggie-free Australia

Research published in a public health journal shows teenagers who have vaped are more likely to try smoking, with the youngest adolescents the most at risk.

AAP · Sep 10, 2024

The sale of vapes outside pharmacies has been banned across Australia – here’s what you need to know

E-cigarette packaging and flavours will be tightly restricted, and until October adults will need to get a prescription from their GP to buy a therapeutic vape

The Guardian - AU · Jun 30, 2024

TikTok bans account of Australian influencer who promoted nicotine pouches in viral videos

Bodybuilder Stefan Kohut’s account shut after Guardian Australia report, but others continue to showcase the controversial products

The Guardian - AU · Mar 28, 2024

Health minister accuses vaping lobby of targeting children after industry ad campaign against ban

Industry claims vapes should be regulated like alcohol but Mark Butler says companies want to create a ‘new generation addicted to nicotine’

The Guardian - AU · Feb 16, 2024

Albanese government condemns ‘widespread marketing’ of nicotine pouches to young people

Regulated in Australia as prescription medicines, nicotine pouches are being promoted on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook

The Guardian - AU · Feb 7, 2024