WHAT WAS CLAIMED
Labor is introducing a sugar tax.
OUR VERDICT
False. While a Labor backbencher backs a sugar tax, introducing one isn't government policy.
AAP FACTCHECK - The Labor government is not introducing a sugar tax, despite claims circulating on social media.
Health Minister Mark Butler has confirmed a sugar tax isn't government policy.
"BREAKING NEWS," a graphic shared on Facebook reads, "Labor to tax sugar instead of making health food more affordable."
"Another tax from Labor. This time it's sugar," reads the caption on a post sharing the same image.
The graphic can be traced back to the Facebook page of self-proclaimed satirist Danger Dan, who designs images that look like news reports.
While the Danger Dan Facebook account is labelled satire, it's unclear if the post is intended to be a joke, with many followers believing it to be a genuine report.
Asked for evidence to support the claim, Danger Dan sent AAP FactCheck a link to a Daily Mail Australia article and a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) costing analysing a 20 per cent tax on sugar-sweetened beverages.
The Daily Mail story covers Labor backbencher Michael Freelander's support for a sugar tax, who requested the PBO costing.
Dr Freelander previously chaired a parliamentary committee that recommended consideration be given to a levy on sugar-sweetened beverages.
The PBO is an independent economic analysis body within the federal government that provides policy costings to parliamentarians and political parties on request. Its work doesn't necessarily represent government policy or feed into cabinet deliberations and is often used by the federal opposition to cost policy alternatives.
A spokesperson for Dr Freelander told AAP FactCheck that despite the backbencher's wishes, the introduction of a sugar tax isn't government policy.
"The government has not accepted this recommendation," the spokesperson said.
"As such, there is no official stance from the government towards the recommendation for a sugar-sweetened beverages levy and we are not aware of any plans for any such levy, or sugar tax, to be introduced."
Mr Butler confirmed as much during an interview with Channel 7's Sunrise on May 30, 2025.
"There is no plan in our government for a sugar tax," Mr Butler said.
"We're instead focusing on education and also working with food manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar that they put into their products."
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