ALBANESE GOVERNMENT’S NEW TOBACCO LAWS HAVE NO CREDIBILITY WITHOUT INCREASED ENFORCEMENT TO BUST THE BLACK MARKET
MEDIA RELEASE
October 20, 2026
Proposed new laws from the Albanese Government on tobacco control have no credibility without serious measures to tackle the out-of-control black market for cigarettes operating in every town across the country, the Australian Taxpayers Alliance said today.
ATA President Brian Marlow said: “While the public health goals of the legislation are welcome and to be supported, of themselves they do nothing to stop the rampant illegal trade that is costing hard-working Australians billions of dollars at risk and causing increasing chaos on our streets.
“Health Minister Mark Butler wants to make changes to tobacco products sold through legal channels, which is fine. But about a quarter of all tobacco consumed in Australia’s multi-billion dollar market is distributed by criminals who won’t be changing what they do based on these rules.
“They ignore the rules now and they will ignore the new ones because the profits on offer in illegal tobacco are so attractive. They have also moved into supplying vapes because of the shambolic regulations and lack of enforcement.
“These criminal businesses are now trading openly in our streets and Australian taxpayers should not have to stand for it.
“Voters are being squeezed by an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis while being taxed heavily on their incomes. We deserve better than vanity exercises from the Labor Party that go down well with medical professors and have the Minister to claim he is leading the world, while doing nothing to curb the criminal enterprises operating in every Australian community and costing taxpayers billions of dollars in missed revenue.”
This week a leading doctor came forward to detail his personal investigations into the widespread availability of illegal tobacco in western Sydney. It is further evidence of the extent of the criminal-run enterprises that are the focus of the ATA’s current “Bust The Black Market” advertising drive.
The ATA believes the tobacco black market has been encouraged by Australia’s cigarette taxes, the highest in the world, combined with a lack of enforcement. The Federal Government plans to continue to increase taxes on tobacco over the coming two years.
“Minister Butler can no longer hide from this. For this tobacco control plan to have any credibility, there must be a detailed explanation about how this will be policed. Who will enforce it? What resources are they being given?” Mr Marlow said.
“Australia’s police forces are already extremely busy dealing with street crime, domestic violence, and burglary. Significant resources are needed urgently to tackle tobacco-related crime and we cannot divert police from existing priorities.
“Without details on enforcement, more consumers will be pushed into the black market, further lining the pockets of criminals.
“The Minister must level with the Australian people about his plans for dealing with this insidious illegal trade.”
Bust The Black Market campaign: www.btbm.com.au
Brian Marlow is available for interview: 0439 138 826
