One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce rejected the suggestion that his party's push for cheaper cigarettes to combat illegal tobacco sales implies support for legalising cocaine and marijuana. Speaking to ABC's Patricia Karvelas, Joyce argued smoking cigarettes is far less dangerous than driving under the influence of drugs, defending the policy as a practical response to Australia's booming black market in tobacco rather than a broader push for drug liberalisation. The exchange comes as Australia's political parties clash over how best to tackle illegal cigarette sales.

Both One Nation and the Coalition have proposed steep cuts to the tobacco excise, with Opposition Leader Angus Taylor calling for an 80 per cent reduction and One Nation proposing 75 per cent, potentially cutting up to $30 off the price of a pack. NSW Premier Chris Minns has also urged federal Labor to review the tax. Karvelas challenged Joyce by noting some countries with lower tobacco taxes still have illegal markets, and pressed him on why the same logic shouldn't apply to drugs; Joyce maintained government efforts against cocaine and marijuana had failed, while cheaper legal cigarettes could still curb the trade, noting that around 80 per cent of tobacco consumed in Australia in 2025 was illegal, up from 12 per cent in 2017.