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2mo ago

NSW Unveils Sweeping Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco Trade

The measures come after mid-year seizures of 46 million illicit cigarettes tied to organised crime with the federal government maintaining high excise rates.

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Overview

  • NSW Health will be authorised to shut down businesses selling illicit tobacco for up to four weeks with possible court-ordered extensions to 12 months.
  • Landlords would gain legal power to evict tenants found retailing illegal tobacco under the new legislation.
  • People convicted of serious illicit tobacco offences could receive up to seven years in prison and fines reaching $1.5 million.
  • Police and border agencies seized 46 million illicit cigarettes worth over $30 million at the NSW border in June and July linked to organised crime.
  • Federal excise hikes have pushed legal cigarette prices above $40 per pack and contributed to a drop in tobacco tax revenue from $16.3 billion in 2019/20 to an estimated $7 billion in 2025/26.