Scott Morrison recently revealed the 2017 budget and if you’re a young person, you probably weren’t holding your breath for good news. We might have seen cuts to tertiary education and restrictions on welfare payments but at least we can tap into our super so we can afford to buy a house… right?
If all this talk of money and finances has got you reaching for some lung candy, you probably shouldn’t as it looks like rolling tobacco is going to see the same steep taxing that it’s prerolled friends have.
In the deep dark crevices of page 12 of this year’s Budget Paper No.2, it has been clearly outlined that “The Government will adjust the taxation of roll your own (RYO) tobacco and other products such as cigars, so that manufactured cigarettes and RYO tobacco cigarettes receive comparable tax treatment.”
As anyone that’s trying to roll a durrie while cooked out there mind at a nightclub’s smokers has told you, roll your own cigarettes are currently way more economical than their counterparts. However, in Septemeber, it looks like they’ll be subjected to the same tax hikes that are set to hit ciggies.
Over the next four years, expect to see an annual rise of 12.5%. Over this period, rollies are expected to make the government $360 million, with a $35 million of that paid to states and territories through GST. Pretty bloody expensive for saying you can just scab a few from your nearest and dearest mate.
There you have it, the youth of today can’t even enjoy a drag without that getting taxed too. Next time you spot someone out and about with a pouch spare them a thought, it could very well be their last.
Source: 2017 budget
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