A tax on tobacco seemed like a great idea to deter smokers and raise revenue. 

But, as the price of cigarettes soared, major criminal organisations saw an opening, and began to pump cheap, illegal cigarettes into Australia. 

And violence came along with it as warring gangs fought for control of the trade in our major cities. 

Today, with your Morning Edition team on a summer break, we return to an episode with senior economics correspondent Shane Wright on the tobacco tax problem.

A tax on tobacco seemed like a great idea to deter smokers and raise revenue.&nbsp;
But, as the price of cigarettes soared, major criminal organisations saw an opening, and began to pump cheap, illegal cigarettes into Australia.&nbsp;
And violence came along with it as warring gangs fought for control of the trade in our major cities.&nbsp;
Today, with your Morning Edition team on a summer break, we return to an episode with senior economics correspondent Shane Wright on the tobacco tax problem.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

Best of 2025: The tobacco tax causing carnage in our streets

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/45a03769-d442-45a7-a402-b3b7009e96b1/transcript

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