Policy and Research
October 2009: Tobacco costs the Australian economy more than it’s worth
A new report commissioned by the Cancer Council Western Australia debunks tobacco industry arguments that higher tobacco taxes will be detrimental to the Australian economy. It also shows there are gains to be made in driving down tobacco use through increased taxes.
- Read the full media release (PDF 483KB).
- Download the full report: Collins DJ, Lapsley HM. Weighing the evidence: evaluating the social benefits and costs of the Australian tobacco industry. Perth: Cancer Council Western Australia, 2009. (PDF 421KB).
- Weighing the evidence summary fact sheet (PDF 69KB).
September 2008: Study on the social costs of smoking
"The social costs of smoking in Western Australia in 2004/05 and the social benefits of public policy measures to reduce smoking prevalence"
A report commissioned by the Cancer Council Western Australia has revealed that the costs of smoking borne by Western Australia are a massive $2.4 billion per year.
International renownded health economists, Professors David Collins and Helen Lapsley, were commissioned by the Cancer Council to estimate the social costs of smoking in WA for the financial year 2004/05, and the benefits of reductions in the prevalence of smoking in WA to 5% or less over the next 10 or 15 years.
This latest study builds on the findings of reports for the years 1988, 1992 and 1998/99 providing an even more accurate estimate of the true costs of tobacco to our community
You can download the full report "The social costs of smoking in Western Australia in 2004/05 and the social benefits of public policy measures to reduce smoking prevalence" (PDF 625KB)
Media Release - Social costs of tobacco in Western Australia (PDF 110KB)
Social costs of smoking - fact sheet (PDF 60KB)
WA health groups have released a ten-point action plan on how the government can help drive down the prevalence of smoking in WA.
Download a copy of the Agenda for action (PDF 87KB)
Media Release, Agenda for action (PDF 39KB)
