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13A.9 Measures to further strengthen the current regulatory settings to address illicit tobacco trade in Australia
Foreword

Relevant news and research: Measures to further strengthen the current regulatory settings to address illicit tobacco trade in Australia

Stevenson, K. and Nicoll, G. (2026). Federal government commits $5.9 million to illicit tobacco reform in the Northern Territory. ABC News. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-07/millions-to-combat-illicit-tobacco-in-the-nt/106653754


Australian Council on Smoking & Health (2026). Illegal tobacco: New Illicit Tobacco Ladder shows which states are up for the tackle and which are still on the bench. . Available from: https://acosh.org/illegal-tobacco-new-illicit-tobacco-ladder-shows-which-states-are-up-for-the-tackle-and-which-are-still-on-the-bench/


Australian Council on Smoking & Health (2026). Illicit Tobacco Ladder. . Available from: https://acosh.org/wp-content/uploads/ACOSH-National-Illicit-Tobacco-Ladder_Graphic.png


Australian Government (2026). Australian Government response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Report: Inquiry into Illicit Tobacco. . Available from: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/reports-and-pubs/PDFs/government-response-to-parliamentary-joint-committee-inquiry-into-illicit-tobacco.pdf


Borland, R., Martin, J., Jegasothy, E., Youdan, B. and Hall, W. (2026). Has Australia lost control of its tobacco and nicotine markets?. Addiction. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/42011071


Lung Foundation Australia (2026). Inquiry into the Illegal Tobacco Crisis in Australia. . Available from: https://lungfoundation.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/LFA2026_Submission_Illegal_Tobacco_Crisis.pdf


Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2026). Response to the Senate inquiry into the illegal tobacco crisis in Australia. . Available from: https://www.racgp.org.au/advocacy/reports-and-submissions/view-all-reports-and-submissions/2026-reports-and-submissions/inquiry-into-illegal-tobacco-crisis-australia


The Hon Bridget Archer MP and The Hon Felix Ellis MP (2026). Tough new laws to crack down on illegal smokes and vapes pass the House of Assembly. . Available from: https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/latest-news/2026/april/tough-new-laws-to-crack-down-on-illegal-smokes-and-vapes-pass-the-house-of-assembly2


The Hon Jacinta Allan MP (2026). More Resources For Police To Keep Victorians Safe. . Available from: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/more-resources-police-keep-victorians-safe


(2026). Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026 (Cth). . Available from: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r7458


Australian Council on Smoking & Health (2026). Australians agree there are too many shops selling tobacco in Australia — and they want governments to lift the bar. . Available from: https://acosh.org/australians-agree-there-are-too-many-shops-selling-tobacco-in-australia-and-they-want-governments-to-lift-the-bar/


Brookfield, S., Puljevic, C., Cho, A. and Gartner, C. E. (2026). Advancing Australia's tobacco control policy and taxation strategies to reduce illicit trade, improve health equity, and resist industry narratives. Tob Control. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41775634


Nuss, T., Shi, A., Nicholson, A., Scollo, M., Durkin, S. and Brennan, E. (2026). Australians' Support for Restricting Tobacco Licence Eligibility [Findings Brief]. . Available from: https://acosh.org/wp-content/uploads/Infographic-Tobacco-Control-National-Survey-Results.pdf


The Hon Jacinta Allan MP and The Hon Enver Erdogan MP (2026). Butting out illicit tobacco. . Available from: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/butting-out-illicit-tobacco


The Hon Julian Hill MP and The Hon Tony Burke MP (2026). Tougher penalities for illicit tobacco offenders. . Available from: https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/JulianHill/Pages/tougher-penalties-illicit-tobacco-offenders.aspx


Australian Council on Smoking & Health (2026). WA public strongly backs tough new laws to shut down illicit tobacco and vape shops. . Available from: https://acosh.org/wa-public-strongly-backs-tough-new-laws-to-shut-down-illicit-tobacco-and-vape-shops/


Department of Health (2026). Consultation open for the Public Health Amendment (Prohibited Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2026. . Available from: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/news-sajari/news/consultation-open-public-health-amendment-prohibited-tobacco-and-other-products-bill-2026


Department of Health (2026). Fact sheet: Public Health Amendment (Prohibited Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2026. . Available from: https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/accessible_public_consultation_-_fact_sheet_-_public_health_amendment_prohibited_tobacco_and_other_products_bill_2026_0.pdf


The Hon Rodger Cook MP, The Hon Meredith Hammat MP and The Hon Reece Whitby MP (2026). Tough new tobacco laws introduced to Parliament. . Available from: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Tough-new-tobacco-laws-introduced-to-Parliament-20260216


The Hon Rodger Cook MP, The Hon Meredith Hammat MP and The Hon Reece Whitby MP (2026). New tobacco laws pass Parliament. . Available from: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/New-tobacco-laws-pass-Parliament-20260312


The Hon Rodger Cook MP, The Hon Meredith Hammat MP and The Hon Tony Buti MP (2026). Tough new tobacco laws pass the Lower House. . Available from: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Tough-new-tobacco-laws-pass-the-Lower-House-20260226


Illicit Tobacco & E-cigarette Commissioner (2025). Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner Report 2024-25: A national picture of the illicit market. . Available from: https://www.itec.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2025-12/ITEC_Commissioner-Report_2024-25.pdf


Okninski, M., Puljevic, C. and Gartner, C. (2025). Targeting Illicit Tobacco Trade in Australia: Recent Amendments to State and Territory Tobacco Control Laws. J Bioeth Inq, 4, 775-780. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41428188


THe Hon. Ryan Park MP (2025). New penalty for landlords permitting illicit tobacco and vapes. . Available from: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20251111_00.aspx


The Hon. Tim Nicholls MP (2025). Nation-leading laws strengthened to target rogue tobacco and vape traders. . Available from: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/103979


Dessaix, A., Maddox, R., Stone, E. and Freeman, B. (2025). Policy incoherence: Leadership needed to combat illicit tobacco and end tobacco oversupply. Aust N Z J Public Health, 100278. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41033930/


New South Wales Government (2025). Have your say: Proposed landlord offence relating to illicit tobacco sales in NSW. . Available from: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/landlord-offence-illicit-tobacco


The Honourable Ryan Park MP (2025). New dedicated enforcement unit to tackle illicit tobacco. . Available from: https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/new-dedicated-enforcement-unit-to-tackle-illicit-tobacco


Butler, M. (2025). Minister for Health and Aged Care, press conference � 12 March 2025. Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/minister-for-health-and-aged-care-press-conference-12-march-2025


Earlier news and research

For news items and research on this topic earlier than 2025, click here.

Intro
Chapter 2