Australians have been generally supportive of the idea of taxing tobacco products. Focus group research among Australian smokers in 2006 found cynicism about tax increases when revenue is not used for programs to discourage smoking.1 Without such investment in programs, smokers who participated in the study felt that governments did not have the moral authority to further raise taxes. Data presented in this section on findings of early state-based and later national surveys generally show higher levels of support for tobacco taxes when the revenue raised was to be used to fund smoking prevention or cessation services.
13.12.1 Early state-based public opinion surveys
A 1985 study examined public attitudes towards a variety of government taxes and expenditures including income taxes, taxes on motor vehicles, sales taxes, company tax, import duty and customs and taxes on alcohol.2 The only tax for which a majority (51.8%) supported an increase was tax on tobacco products.
Several statewide polls assessing public opinion about tobacco tax increases have been undertaken in successive decades. Findings of some of the early surveys are summarised in Table 13.12.1. In general, the surveys have shown broad and growing support for increased tobacco taxes, especially if revenue from the tax increases is used for health education among children.
Table 13.12.1 Proportion of adults approving tax increases in early surveys of public opinion in six Australian states and nationally, selected years 1987 to 1998
June 1987
|
Victoria
|
47%
|
84%
|
December 1987
|
South Australia
|
55%
|
82%
|
July 1988
|
New South Wales
|
56%
|
88%
|
August 1989
|
Tasmania
|
59%
|
89%
|
July 1990
|
Queensland
|
66%
|
92%
|
May 1993
|
Western Australia
|
60%
|
88%*
|
February 1998
|
Australia
|
-
|
96%
|
13.12.2 National surveys of public opinion
The National Drug Strategy Household Survey has collected data on public opinion on tax increases in its three-yearlyi surveys since 1998. Figure 13.12.1 shows levels of public support over time for three measures regarding increases to tobacco taxes: to pay for health education, to contribute to treatment costs, and to discourage smoking. Levels of public support have remained at 60% or above for all three measures since 1998, with ‘contribute to treatment costs’ always receiving the highest level of support. Support for all measures increased steadily to around 2013, then declined slightly over 2016 and 2019—during a period of successive annual 12.5% excise increases—then stabilised in 2022–23.
Figure 13.12.1 Proportion of Australians aged 14+ years who supported measures to increase tobacco taxes, 1998 to 2022–23
Levels of support for increasing tobacco taxes varies somewhat by demographic group, however the pattern of highest support for tax increases to contribute to healthcare costs and lowest support for tax increases to discourage smoking is evident in all groups examined. Figure 13.12.2 shows support was approximately 3 percentage points higher among females compared to males in 2022–23 for all three tax increase measures. Figure 13.12.3 shows slightly higher levels of support among those aged 40 to 69 years compared to those aged under 40 years, but highest support among those aged 70 years or older.
Figure 13.12.2 Proportion of Australians aged 14+ years who supported measures to increase tobacco taxes, by gender, 2022–23
Figure 13.12.2 Proportion of Australians aged 14+ years who supported measures to increase tobacco taxes, by age group, 2022–23
More substantial differences in levels of support are evident by smoking status. Figure 13.12.4 shows that in 2022–23 more than 70% of people aged 14+ years who had never smoked supported the tax increase measures, approximately 10 percentage points higher for each measure than people who had previously smoked. Among people who currently smoked at least occasionally, around 20% supported the tax increase measures.
Figure 13.12.2 Proportion of Australians aged 14+ years who supported measures to increase tobacco taxes, by smoking status, 2022–23
[i] For the most recent survey, data was collected over 2022 and to mid 2023.
Relevant news and research
For recent news items and research on this topic, click here ( Last updated May 2021)
References
1. Carter SM and Chapman S. Smokers and non-smokers talk about regulatory options in tobacco control. Tobacco Control, 2006; 15(5):398-404. Available from: http://tc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/398
2. Heady B, Holmstrom E, and Wearing A. Government taxes and expenditures: what does the public want? , Melbourne, Australia: University of Melbourne, 1985.