Tobacconists could soon face three-month closures and seizure of legal smoking products if they are caught selling illegal tobacco or vapes.
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls said, under proposed laws, landlords who knowingly lease their premises to illicit tobacco and vape traders would also face hefty fines and possible jail time.
Minister Nicholls said the proposed changes, which were open for public consultation until June 19, included increasing interim closure orders from 72-hours to three months, undercover health operations, and the seizure of legal smoking products if found at the same place as illicit products.
“Under proposed new laws, which would be the toughest in the nation, landlords who are complicit or turn a blind eye to illegal activity will face one year imprisonment, a $161,300 fine, or both,” he said.
Minister Nicholls said the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 would also give lessors the right to terminate a lease if their tenant had triggered a closure order through illegal activity.
He said the proposed laws followed Operational Appaloosa, the nation’s largest-ever seizure of illicit tobacco and vapes in a single operation led by a health authority in Australia, which involved the raiding of more than 30 locations and seizure of more than 76,000 vapes, 19 million illicit cigarettes and 3.6 tonnes of loose illicit tobacco with a combined estimated street value of $20.8 million.
“Despite all our recent progress, the illegal trade remains deeply entrenched.
“This is because the profits simply outweigh risk of enforcement and the current laws limit enforcement responsiveness by being too onerous or relying on prosecution through the courts.”
