Aug 26, 2026 – 10.44amOpposition Leader Angus Taylor has been given the green light by a Coalition taskforce to announce an 80 per cent cut in tobacco excise to attempt to break organised crime’s control of the lucrative black market for illegal cigarettes.The Coalition had been secretly working up a policy proposal that would slash tobacco excise, but its initial plan for a 75 per cent reduction was gazumped by One Nation last week.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles