He's not involved in the coalition talks, but ACT's leader has been the first to suggest new policy.

David Seymour says ACT wants to see tobacco taxes slashed to lower crime.

In the last year there have been almost 500 robberies targeting cigarette "gold bars" and shopkeepers and dairy owners say they are living in fear.

ACT leader David Seymour says we have doubled tobacco tax in the last five years and the policy is not working.

Mr Seymour said the Government needs to do a u-turn with this policy.

"People who are doing these robberies are the scum of the Earth and they should all be hung, drawn and quartered or whatever the maximum is allowed under the Crimes Act as it stands."

LISTEN ABOVE AS DAVID SEYMOUR SPOKE TO THE MIKE HOSKING BREAKFAST