Why are some politicians calling for a cut to the tobacco excise?

Australia's tobacco excise is increasing again this week, pushing the price of legal cigarettes and smoking products up even further.

The excise - or the tax consumers pay on tobacco products - has more than quadrupled over the past fifteen years, making cigarettes $50 or more a packet.

There's currently a a big political fight over the excise; some are calling for it to be cut because they argue the huge costs are fuelling the illicit tobacco market