Cancer Council welcomes Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening tobacco law enforcement

Cancer Council welcomes the $156.7 million funding announced by the Federal Government to strengthen enforcement to stop the illicit tobacco trade and further drive down smoking rates.

The Federal Government’s increased compliance and enforcement measures are designed to interrupt the supply of illicit tobacco, preventing all players from continuing to profit from the illicit tobacco trade.

Alecia Brooks, Chair of Cancer Council’s Tobacco Issues Committee, said the investment is a critical step in ensuring vigorous and proactive enforcement of effective tobacco laws across Australia.

“All tobacco products - whether legally sold or illicit - are inherently harmful. That’s why we support strong enforcement measures that disrupt the illicit tobacco trade while continuing to drive down smoking rates and protect public health,” she said.

“Illicit suppliers continue to exploit nicotine addiction for profit, making strong enforcement by state, territory and federal authorities essential.”

“Two in three people who smoke will die from tobacco-related disease, but most Australians who smoke want to quit. This is why we must do everything in our power to drive down smoking rates- including stopping the illicit tobacco trade from affecting our communities”.

Cancer Council strongly supports action from all levels of governments that closes regulatory gaps and allows authorities to act quickly and decisively against illegal operators.

“This funding will empower government regulators to work across jurisdictions, ensuring that all actors in the illicit tobacco trade face significant consequences, and the health of Australians comes first,” said Ms. Brooks.

Cancer Council supports the Federal Government’s continued commitment to compliance and enforcement efforts nationally and emphasises that addressing the illicit tobacco trade must be paired with strong measures to reduce smoking rates altogether.

“We’ve seen significant declines in smoking rates in recent decades, but we can’t take our foot off the pedal when nearly 66 Australians die every day from tobacco related disease.”

“The best way to stop the illicit tobacco trade from profiting off addiction is to prevent people from starting to smoke in the first place and to support all Australian smokers to quit. This investment, alongside the implementation of the National Tobacco Strategy, is an important step towards achieving that goal,” said Ms. Brooks.