AC,

Sorry. I missed the question. I can't remember exactly, but it was in an article I read, possibly The Spectator.

The Senator said it was $8 billion in 2014, so the increase to $11.5 billion over 4 years would be about right.

ttbn,

I gave up smoking a few times and the last time was when a mate took me with him to Sydney Uni to have a couple of pistols x-rayed.
I asked the x-ray bloke if it was OK to smoke and he said he'd rather that I didn't.

Just before we left he shewed me a bottled smoker's lungs.

I had 2 ounces of Capstan Fine Cut in my tobacco tin and I carried it around till it turned to dust.

Shock treatment worked on me!!

AC,

Here's the link you're after:

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/an-australian-senator-has-just-thanked-smokers-for-their-8-billion-staggering-generosity-to-the-economy-2014-10

Foxy,
As our resident Link champion, would you be able to find something on how much tax the Govt gets out of drug abusers ?

Forgot to add, how much does Govt get from the sale of drug dealers assets ?