Labor has seized on reports the Coalition will head to the election with a pledge to raise revenue by increasing the cost of cigarettes, a Labor policy the government once vehemently opposed.
Fairfax Media reported on Thursday that Treasurer Scott Morrison's first budget would contain an increase to the tobacco excise, a measure former Prime Minister Tony Abbott criticised as a tax on "smokos" and workers, when it was first proposed by Labor in 2015.
When asked about the report on ABC's 7.30 on Thursday night, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann did not rule it out, saying that smokers would have to "wait and see."
"I'm obviously not going to comment on measures that may or may not be in the budget on 3rd May," he said.
"The budget will be delivered on 3rd May. There's always a lot of speculation in the lead-up to any budget, so let's just wait and see what will be in the budget on 3rd May," he said.
Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen, who fought against internal opposition to the idea, told Lateline later that night it was clear the government would be heading to the election fighting for a Labor policy. Read More>
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