• Almost one in two Australians (47%) favour lowering cigarette taxes over increased enforcement to deal with the black market in illegal tobacco
• Just under four in ten (37%) favour increased enforcement
• See our report for more information.

Almost one in two Australians believe the Federal Government should significantly cut cigarette taxes to tackle the growing black market of illegal cigarettes, new DemosAU research shows.

The poll, as first published in Capital Brief, found 47% of Australians believe cigarette taxes should be cut significantly, compared with 37% who favoured increased law enforcement. A further 16% were unsure.

Demographic Divides Over Cigarette Tax Cuts

However, attitudes differ considerably across different sections of the community.

Support for cigarette tax cuts is highest among regional and rural Australians and One Nation voters.

A total of 55% of Australians in regional and rural areas support cigarette tax cuts compared to only 28% who supported increased law enforcement. 

In inner metropolitan areas, 43% backed the tax cuts, but 43% supported stronger law enforcement.

Politically, One Nation voters stood out, with 69% favouring significant cigarette tax cuts and 20% preferring increased enforcement.

Labor voters lean in the opposite direction, with 45% favouring increased law enforcement and 36% supporting tax cuts. Coalition voters are almost evenly divided, with 45% favouring tax cuts and 44% increased enforcement.

Older Australians are more supportive of cutting cigarette taxes, with 51% of both 35–54 year olds and those aged 55+ backing tax cuts, while 18–34-year-olds are more likely to favour increased law enforcement (43%) than tax cuts (36%).

Income is another stark difference, with those earning under $45k much more likely to support significant tax cuts on cigarettes (50%) while those earning over $125k were more likely to support increased law enforcement (53%.)

More than half of Australians with a school education (52%) or TAFE qualification (53%) favour cutting cigarette taxes. Among university-educated Australians, the result reverses, with 52% favouring increased law enforcement and 36% supporting tax cuts.

It comes after the Coalition announced it would slash tobacco taxes by 80 per cent if Angus Taylor was elected Prime Minister.

DemosAU Head of Research George Hasanakos said the issue was polarising, with clear dividing lines across voting intention, age, education, income and region.

“This is a real class issue where people earning more money, who have higher levels of education and vote Labor, are more likely to support increasing law enforcement,” he said.

“Compare to this those who vote One Nation, live in a regional or rural area, have a school or TAFE qualification, and earn less income, they are much more likely to back cuts to cigarette taxes.”

About the poll

The DemosAU poll of 1583 Australians was conducted via internet panel between 10 and 14 September 2026. The effective margin of error was +/- 3.3%

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