The Government’s 2026-27 Budget has sparked a stark divide between public-health advocates celebrating a new sugary drink levy and industry leaders warning that it will hit low-income consumers hardest. At the centre of the Government’s 2026-27 revenue package is a new Special Consumption Tax (SCT) on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages, set at $0.02 per millilitre. The levy captures drinks with added sugar or artificial/non-nutritive sweeteners, whether locally produced or imported, and is projected to raise $10.1 billion in its first year. Examples of the price impact include $6 for a 300ml drink, $12 for 600ml, and $40 for a two-litre bottle. READ MORE