If this is passed (and I highly doubt it), expect an influx of Tasmanians every weekend into Melbourne buying up big on Winnie blues and PJ's! Kind of like the poms heading across to France to buy duty free alcohol.
The Spirit of Tasmania will become the black market trade route for tabacco.........they could have a big sign at station pier that says "Welcome to
Melbourne Marlboro"
At any rate, no government will ever ban the sale of tabacco (or alcohol); they are as addicted to the taxes they reap off them as I am to nicotine! They need to be seen as doing
just enough to encourage people to quit, whilst being careful not to do too much so as to lose all that lovely income. If they raised taxes on other commodities (say petrol for instance) to compensate for the loss in tabacco revenue, the public outcry would be
enormous. Anyway, rant over. I'm gunna light a smoke and have another beer, and do it in that last great bastion of freedom......my own backyard!!
Cheers
(cough cough)
Matt