[deejayvee (David)]

Originally Posted by Huginn

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.
- http://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au...s-in-australia

Now it's my turn to apologise for not being clear

I was talking about the direct cost to the government's bottom line. From the figures that make up the $31.5b, it seems to me that only the healthcare costs will be paid for by the government in the budget.

That's not to say that the social costs are unimportant, I just don't see what giving more money to the government would achieve.