Wednesday, 9 September 2026

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Finance, Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Government Services) (12:14): The doors are closing on Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade, with Labor’s tough new closure powers having received royal assent. From today it will be harder to sell, harder to profit from and easier to shut down this illicit tobacco trade. Inspectors will be out in force from today, targeting businesses and taking action against those that break the law. For those that ignore a closure power there will be even tougher consequences. The Magistrates’ Court can also issue longer term closure powers, and landlords will be able to terminate leases because of these orders. Businesses that ignore the closure orders face fines of up to $2.5 million and 20 years in jail.

Illicit tobacco fuels organised crime, undercuts legitimate businesses and puts Victorians at risk. That is why Tobacco Licensing Victoria is continuing to work closely with law enforcement partners to target illicit tobacco across our state. We know that there are multiple factors for the growth of the illicit tobacco market, including the significant price differential caused by Commonwealth tax settings as well as the significant volumes of tobacco entering our country. This is a national problem that requires a national approach. In Victoria our Labor government is cracking down from every angle possible, with tougher powers, more inspectors and serious consequences for those who refuse to play by the rules. Tobacco Licencing Victoria will use the full force of these powers to bring bad actors to justice and disrupt the illicit tobacco trade, continuing its risk-based, intelligence-led approach. Inspectors have already seized more than $10 million of illicit products this year and issued more than 100 infringement notices. This year’s budget also invests a further $13 million to triple the number of inspectors, putting more boots on the ground to target these dodgy operators. The crackdown is here, the powers are in place and anyone dealing in illicit tobacco is on notice.