Quote:
Originally Posted by deejayvee
I think your analysis is a little off on this one. If you look at the breakdown of the $31.5b figure here:
http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au...ralian-society
The actual cost of healthcare is $318.4m
Much of the $31.5b figure (e.g. $9b for premature death, $5b for reduced workforce) are costs to "society", not just the government's budget.
By my reckoning, as far as the government is concerned, tobacco taxes do in fact cover the cost. |
Ah thank you for that. However you have misinterpreted what I said, my apologises, it's my fault actually for not making myself clear. The figure for medical was actually medicare. My assumption was that the majority of that figure (31.5b) was for medical costs, so thank you on that front. I would love to have tax revenue = social costs + a little more to subsidize medicare.
However as for your last sentence. That is not the case, the total federal and state tax revenue from tobacco was $6,207,360,000 (2006). This figure is 5 times less than the $31.5b.
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http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au...s-in-australia
@2stroke.
"Well your a real Aussie arn't you? " Your sarcasm is extending to the fact that I would not care if alcohol is banned? That is the exact problem at the heart of the matter. We should not be so dependent on alcohol. We were not designed to drink alcohol as well as smoke tobacco.
We are expecting the government to subsidize an activity that has a moderate social ramification. Everyone has experienced the bad effects of alcohol. You do raise an important point about needing a beer at the end of the day. let's kill two birds with one stone, Ban alcohol and if you want to wind down at the end of the day, go for a run and get the runners high.
Just don't get me started on people who spunge and laziness. I would love to see a fat tax put in on fast food.
I'm not so cynical that the government is only interested in taxes. This is because why tax at a lower rate than the social cost?
I live in reality and know that banning isn't the answer especially when alcohol is so ingrained in our society. Oh well, I hope that one day maybe society will change and everyone can control their habits.