TobaccoReporter logo

Tag: Australia

  • Australia Tightens Import Controls on Nicotine Pouches

    Australia Tightens Import Controls on Nicotine Pouches

    Australia strengthened regulation of nicotine pouches under new rules that took effect over the weekend, placing the products under the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s therapeutic goods framework. The changes restrict the import of unapproved nicotine pouches, extending Australia’s strict regulatory approach beyond nicotine vaping products to another smoke-free nicotine category.

    The new rules do not prohibit all nicotine pouch use but require products to meet regulatory approval requirements before they can be legally imported or supplied. The move aligns nicotine pouches with Australia’s existing controls on nicotine products and reflects the country’s continued focus on regulating emerging nicotine alternatives through therapeutic product oversight.

  • Labor Premier Breaks Ranks on Australia’s Tobacco Tax Policy

    Labor Premier Breaks Ranks on Australia’s Tobacco Tax Policy

    Calls are growing in Australia for the federal government to reconsider tobacco excise policy, with critics arguing high cigarette taxes are fueling the illicit tobacco market. NSW Premier Chris Minns said the “massive” excise, which adds about A$30 ($21) to a 20-pack of cigarettes, has created a price gap that benefits illegal sellers. He said the policy needs to be reviewed while emphasizing his opposition to smoking and tobacco companies.

    Former law enforcement officials and lawmakers also warned that seizures alone are not addressing the scale of the illicit trade. Former Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force officer Rohan Pike said enforcement efforts are only capturing a small portion of illegal tobacco entering the country, while Liberal MP Mary Aldred said the black market is contributing to organized crime concerns. The federal government has rejected lowering excise and said it remains focused on enforcement and border seizures.

  • Australia’s Tobacco Use Down, Pouches & Black Market Up: Survey

    Australia’s Tobacco Use Down, Pouches & Black Market Up: Survey

    Australia’s latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey shows daily smoking continues to decline, with the number of daily smokers falling by more than half since 2001 to about 1.3 million Australians, while 68.7% of people aged 14 and older report never having smoked. The 2025 survey also found daily e-cigarette use has largely plateaued since 2022, with frequent vaping among 18- to 24-year-olds dropping from 11.3% to 5.8%.

    However, researchers highlighted emerging challenges, including rising illicit tobacco use and nicotine pouches. The survey found one in three smokers now purchase black-market cigarettes — double the proportion reported in 2022 — while use of three or more nicotine products has tripled since 2019, signaling growing concern over poly-nicotine use despite overall declines in smoking.

  • Authorities Seize $7M in Illegal Tobacco, Vapes in Tasmania

    Authorities Seize $7M in Illegal Tobacco, Vapes in Tasmania

    Tasmanian authorities seized nearly A$10 million ($7 million) worth of illicit tobacco and vaping products during the 2025-26 financial year, including 5.43 million cigarettes, 2,535 kilograms of loose tobacco, and nearly 30,000 illegal vapes, following intensified enforcement efforts and closer cooperation between the Department of Health and Tasmania Police. The seizures come as the state implements tougher laws targeting illicit tobacco and vape sales, including higher penalties, new business closure powers, and restrictions on vending machine sales. At the same time, Tasmanian officials are urging Australia’s federal government to reduce tobacco excise taxes, arguing that high cigarette prices are fueling black market growth, reducing excise revenue, and strengthening organized crime despite continued declines in smoking rates.

  • Australia’s ‘Tobacco Wars’ See 10 Businesses Set Ablaze

    Australia’s ‘Tobacco Wars’ See 10 Businesses Set Ablaze

    Melbourne’s ongoing “tobacco wars” escalated today (July 6) after a suspected ram raid and arson attack destroyed a tobacco shop in Abbotsford and damaged about 10 neighboring businesses. Fire Rescue Victoria deployed 80 firefighters and 25 trucks after crews arrived to find the building fully engulfed in flames, bringing the fire under control by 6 a.m. Victoria Police said unknown offenders drove a vehicle into the shop before setting it alight and fleeing. No injuries were reported, but a crime scene has been established, and an investigation is underway, while road and tram closures disrupted traffic in the area.

  • Australian Economist Calls to Eliminate Tobacco Excise

    Australian Economist Calls to Eliminate Tobacco Excise

    Prominent Australian economist and public policy expert Richard Holden called for the temporary elimination of Australia’s tobacco excise, arguing that only a dramatic tax reduction can effectively dismantle the country’s rapidly expanding illicit tobacco market. Holden, a professor at the University of New South Wales and columnist for the Australian Financial Review, said reducing excise rates incrementally would be insufficient and that taxes should be cut to zero for as long as necessary to make illegal tobacco sellers uncompetitive. He argued that enforcement efforts alone are unlikely to succeed given the scale of the illicit market and the limited resources available to police agencies, and that undercutting the illicit process was the best way to eliminate it.

    Holden’s comments come as new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated that about 80% of nicotine products consumed in Australia in 2025 were sourced from the illegal market, up from 12% in 2017. He noted that the tobacco excise on a single cigarette has risen from 26 cents ($0.18) to approximately A$1.53 ($1.09), adding more than A$30 ($21.30) in tax to a pack of 20 cigarettes. The proposal goes beyond recent calls by Australian politician Pauline Hanson to halve tobacco excise and freeze indexation, highlighting growing debate over whether Australia’s high-tax tobacco policy is contributing to the expansion of a black market estimated to be worth billions of dollars annually.

  • NSW Premier Backs Review of Tobacco Excise Tax

    NSW Premier Backs Review of Tobacco Excise Tax

    New South Wales Premier Chris Minns called for a rethink of Australia’s tobacco excise policy, arguing that repeated tax increases are fueling the growth of the illicit tobacco market. Minns said the excise was “actually creating a black market for cigarettes,” making illegal products cheaper and more accessible than intended under tobacco control measures.

    His comments align with those of politician Pauline Hanson, who this week urged the federal government to cut tobacco excise rates to undermine criminal groups profiting from illicit cigarette sales. Hanson argued that continued excise increases are creating incentives for organized crime and called for stronger customs enforcement.

    The debate follows new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimating that nicotine consumption rose nearly 40% between 2017 and 2025, driven largely by growth in illicit cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other nicotine products. The report estimated illicit products accounted for 80% of nicotine consumption in 2025, up from 12% in 2017.

    The issue has become increasingly prominent as Australia faces an ongoing illicit tobacco-related crime wave. More than 125 firebombings in Victoria have been linked to disputes over the illegal tobacco trade. Meanwhile, federal budget projections show tobacco excise revenue falling from A$7.8 billion ($5.5 billion) in 2024-25 to A$4.1 billion ($2.9 billion) in 2025-26, despite excise rates continuing to rise. Australia’s tobacco excise increased again in March to A$1.53 ($1.09) per cigarette stick, with a further increase scheduled for September.

  • ABF Announces $1.3M Illicit Tobacco Seizure

    ABF Announces $1.3M Illicit Tobacco Seizure

    The Australian Border Force released details of a major illicit tobacco and vape seizure in Darwin that confiscated 433,400 illicit cigarettes, 686 kg of loose-leaf tobacco, and 50,200 disposable vapes, preventing an estimated A$1.8 million ($1.3 million) in evaded duty and disrupting potential criminal proceeds valued at A$3.7 million ($2.6 million). Officers executed warrants on May 28 as part of Operation GOALFENCE.

    The operation, supported by the Detector Dog Unit, follows another Northern Territory seizure earlier this month involving more than 100,000 cigarettes and 39 kg of loose-leaf tobacco intercepted through the international mail stream. The ABF said the action targeted organized criminal supply chains linked to the illicit tobacco and vape market.

  • South Australia Reports Record-Low Smoking, Rising Illicit Concerns

    South Australia Reports Record-Low Smoking, Rising Illicit Concerns

    South Australia reported record-low smoking rates as part of its Tobacco Strategy 2023–2027, with daily smoking falling to 7.5% in 2025 from 10.6% in 2020, according to the latest government progress report. Declines were also recorded among younger adults, middle-aged populations, and people living with mental illness, while the average age of smoking initiation increased to 17 years. State officials credited legislative reforms, public health campaigns, and expanded enforcement efforts for progress, while emphasizing ongoing investment in anti-vaping initiatives and illicit tobacco crackdowns.

    However, the report also highlights significant ongoing challenges for the tobacco and nicotine sector. Rising youth vaping rates remain a concern despite stricter regulations, and authorities estimate illicit tobacco and e-cigarette products now account for roughly 55% of Australia’s total market, underscoring the scale of illegal trade and enforcement difficulties. The government signaled that additional reforms targeting illicit supply chains and organized crime are under consideration, suggesting further regulatory pressure ahead for both legal tobacco and alternative nicotine product markets.

  • NSW Ups Penalties for Landlords With Tenants Selling Illicit Products

    NSW Ups Penalties for Landlords With Tenants Selling Illicit Products

    New South Wales, Australia, passed legislation introducing criminal penalties for landlords who knowingly allow tenants to sell illicit tobacco or illegal vapes, as part of a broader crackdown on the black market. Under the new law, offenders face up to 12 months’ imprisonment and fines of up to A$165,000 ($118,800). The measure builds on recent reforms, including tougher penalties for possession and sale, expanded closure powers for non-compliant premises, and new enforcement tools targeting false licensing and interference with seizures.

    The government also increased enforcement capacity, adding 30 inspectors to support statewide operations alongside police, with more than 220 closure orders issued since late 2025. Officials say the reforms are designed to address evolving tactics, including online and QR code-based sales, and to strengthen accountability across the supply chain to curb illicit tobacco and vape distribution.