Australians are giving up smoking in huge numbers - which sounds great - but it’s not all good news for the government.

A huge drop in the collection of taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and fuel has punched a huge hole in the federal budget, and now the Treasurer has to come up with a plan to make up the shortfall.

Today on Please Explain, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright joins Tory Maguire to discuss how the fall in the number of people smoking is making a big impact on the federal budget.

Australians are giving up smoking in huge numbers - which sounds great - but it&rsquo;s not all good news for the government.
A huge drop in the collection of taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and fuel has punched a huge hole in the federal budget, and now the Treasurer has to come up with a plan to make up the shortfall.
Today on Please Explain, senior economics correspondent Shane Wright joins Tory Maguire to discuss how the fall in the number of people smoking is making a big impact on the federal budget.

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.

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