The government has proposed new laws for tackling illegal tobacco, but they likely won’t do much
The legislation, which aims to make it easier to prosecute those involved in the illicit tobacco trade, is more of the same: punitive, but still not effective.
The Australian federal government has introduced a bill aimed at making it easier to prosecute individuals involved in the illicit tobacco trade. If passed, the Customs Act changes will allow prosecutors to use characteristics of the product itself, such as low prices or non-compliant packaging, to prove it entered the country unlawfully.
The bill also expands powers for obtaining documents and confiscating proceeds of crime. This is the second Commonwealth bill this year targeting illicit tobacco, with the previous Combating Illicit Tobacco Bill increasing penalties and introducing wiretaps. States have also enacted stricter enforcement measures and penalties. Despite these punitive laws, illicit tobacco remains widely available, with up to 80% of nicotine consumed in Australia estimated to be illicit.
The escalating cycle of more laws and harsher penalties appears ineffective, as the problem persists. Critics argue that enforcement alone is unlikely to have a significant impact, as the illicit market's size and structure make it difficult to catch individuals. Instead, the focus should be on addressing the underlying drivers of the illicit market, such as restrictive legal supply and strong consumer demand.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
