Big tobacco is exploiting fears of the illicit market to unwind health gains, Australian experts warn

Cigarettes kill 66 Australians every day, health groups say, criticising MPs who heard evidence from Philip Morris in secret

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Big tobacco is exploiting fears of the illicit market to unwind longstanding health policies, leading health campaigners have warned, amid a parliamentary inquiry which took secret evidence from the cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris.

A coalition of 15 health organisations including the Cancer Council and the Heart Foundation, as well as health experts and researchers, have accused the industry of trying to reshape public debate to push for major cuts to government excise.