As hinted at here in February, I see from the Australian Taxpayers' Alliance that their government are well on their way to wiping out duty free tobacco for travellers in the latest budget.
As part of its reforms, the Government increased the excise on tobacco products by 25 per cent, and will reduce the duty free allowance on tobacco to 50 cigarettes or 50 grams of other tobacco product.A couple of packs or a large pouch of baccy. That's it.
Doubtless the tobacco control industry will once again say this doesn't represent any kind of precedent, but commenters to this article in April didn't seem to think so. The very whisper of a rule no-one had even considered in their everyday lives before instantly brings the spiteful out of the woodwork to apply it elsewhere. Alcohol featured prominently.
There really is nothing that those paid to impose their personal preferences on others will view as not being a target for making grey and mundane.
And in politicians worldwide devoted to ripping every penny the public earns in feeding the bloated monkey of profligate government, they have perfect allies. Yours is not to enjoy life or find joy in the odd perk, it is only to serve the state machine and live as long as possible to pay even more taxes.
You didn't really want that Toblerone anyway, did you?
