News Analysis
With the stark realities of global economic turbulence rapidly seeping into Australian livelihoods, Labor is approaching a crossroads.
It must decide between gearing its fiscal policy towards softening the blow of the cost-of-living crisis for households or maintaining sizeable levels of spending to fulfil its initial election promises.
Earlier last week, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced that his government will be increasing the excise tax on tobacco products by five percent annually over the next three years.
The announcement coaligns with stringent measures to suppress vaping across the nation, with growing concerns about the widespread access many minors have to nicotine products reaching the limelight….