Queensland's crackdown shows enforcement can beat black-market tobacco
Queensland's tobacco crackdown worked. Legal sales rose 55 per cent in one month after enforcement laws started in November.
Convenience store owners across Australia face threats, attacks and theft from illegal tobacco traders. The illegal trade has cost them $3 billion in legal cigarette sales over five years.
The illegal trade has put 80,000 staff at risk. Queensland tried enforcement.
Legal tobacco sales rose 55 per cent in the first month after new enforcement laws took effect in November. Sales stayed at least 40 per cent higher for six months.
Nationally, the market stayed almost flat. Queensland shut down illegal stores in targeted areas, forcing buyers to travel further.
But sellers are now using WhatsApp and street meetings to avoid detection. The federal government backs enforcement.
The Coalition and One Nation want to cut the tobacco excise instead. They argue lower prices would undercut black-market gangs.
- 55 per cent in first month
- Sales uplift after enforcement
- 3 billion dollars
- Lost legal sales over 5 years
- 80,000
- Staff at risk nationally
Why it mattersIllegal tobacco is fueling organised crime. It is putting store staff in danger. It is depriving the government of tax revenue. But policy-makers disagree sharply on whether enforcement or price cuts work better.
AustraliaConvenience stores and supermarkets across Australia are losing billions, and the government must choose between enforcement and excise cuts as the 2025 election approaches.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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