Queensland's crackdown on illegal cigarettes boosts legal sales 55 per cent
Legal tobacco sales jumped 55 per cent. This came after Queensland got new power to shut illegal retailers without court approval.
Queensland's tougher enforcement against illegal cigarettes is delivering results. Legal tobacco sales leapt 55 per cent in the first month after new laws took effect in November, then stayed 40 to 45 per cent above normal for the next six months.
The state closed more than 300 shops with new powers. These powers let authorities shut retailers for up to 90 days without a court order and let them fine landlords up to $161,300 for leasing to illicit operators.
A single 10-day enforcement blitz seized more than 11.8 million cigarettes, 1.7 tonnes of loose tobacco, 87,000 vapes and 270,000 nicotine pouches with a street value of $15.7 million. Calls to Quitline more than doubled in the 10 days after major operations, suggesting the crackdown may push some smokers to quit.
The federal government expects Queensland's results to generate $89 million in extra tobacco excise revenue over two years.
- 55 percent
- Legal sales lift in first month
- 40 to 45 percent above normal
- Sustained sales lift
- More than 300
- Shops closed with new powers
- 89 million dollars over two years
- Expected excise revenue gain
Why it mattersStrong enforcement appears to drive smokers back to legal products and toward quitting, challenging arguments for cutting tobacco tax.
AustraliaQueensland's enforcement model is now being pushed nationally by the Albanese government as a template for other states to follow.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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