The federal government has been accused of “pouring petrol on an already raging and out-of-control fire” by raising the price of legal cigarettes.

Dr James Martin, Criminologist, spoke to 6PR Mornings host Gary Adshead on the implication of pushing up prices.

“The problem is smokers are quitting the legal market for cigarettes, but are not quitting cigarettes entirely. They are buying them from the black market,” he said.

Click PLAY for the full conversation.