Health bodies in VIC unite to urge tougher action action on illicit tobacco and nicotine products
Posted 4 Nov, 2026
Leading health agencies have united today to sound the alarm on Victoria’s ongoing challenge with illicit trade of tobacco and nicotine products.
Representing the group of agencies, Quit Director, Rachael Andersen called for a commitment to continued government action.
“With the Victorian state election fast approaching, we implore all sides of politics to commit to continuing the work to further tighten tobacco licensing in this state. This includes introducing Victorian laws that enable enforcement officers to seize vapes and pouches and close shops caught selling them,” Andersen said.
The widespread availability of cheap, harmful tobacco and non-therapeutic nicotine products from bricks-and-mortar stores, and via online sales continues to undermine our nation’s hard-fought tobacco control gains.
The increased availability, appeal and normalisation of the use of illicitly traded tobacco, vapes and nicotine pouches undermine individuals’ resolve to quit and may trigger relapse. Tobacco is being illegally sold for as little as $15 for a pack in some areas.
The leading health agencies welcome the Victorian Parliament’s passing of recent laws to increase the powers of Tobacco Licensing Victoria (TLV) and Victoria Police to shut shops selling illicit tobacco, to allow landlords to cancel leases of tenants operating outside the law and to ensure landlords face consequences for failing to act. But there is still more to do.
Laura Hunter, CEO of ACOSH agreed and called for Victoria to aim higher in its approach to unlawful sales of tobacco and harmful nicotine products.
“The recently released ACOSH league tables positioned Victoria on the bottom half of the ladder when it comes to action on illicit tobacco. As a progressive, health-forward state, with some of the most widespread and deadly illicit tobacco activity, the wider Victorian community deserves a government that’s pushing harder to protect them from sales by a relentless, harmful and at times criminal industry,” Hunter said.
Regardless of where Victorians buy tobacco, or how much it costs, smoking causes still kills 66 Australians a day. That’s more than 24,000 Australian lives lost annually.
With most people who smoke or vape wanting to quit, public health organisations call on the Victorian Government to take further action, including increasing licence fees and expanding the inspector workforce to stop the supply of illicitly traded tobacco products and nontherapeutic nicotine products.
“We urge the Victorian Government to work with us to reduce the demand for these harmful products. And we call on anyone affected by nicotine addiction to reach out to our free quitting services for personalised support and guidance,” Andersen added.
For support to quit nicotine for yourself or a loved one, visit quit.org.au or call Quitline 137848.
