Quit welcomes new bill to amend the Tobacco Act 1987

Quit and Cancer Council Victoria welcome the passage of the Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, which introduces changes to the Tobacco Act 1987 to further strengthen Victoria’s tobacco licensing scheme.  
 
Quit Director Rachael Andersen praised the outcome commenting, “These latest amendments considerably tighten the Tobacco Act to which changes were last introduced in late 2024. It makes it possible to better protect Victorians from the harms of tobacco.” 

The changes also help bring Victoria in closer alignment with the progress achieved in other Australian jurisdictions to crack down on the illicit tobacco trade.  

Under the amendments: 

• Tobacco Licensing Victoria and the Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police can close shops caught selling illicit tobacco or operating without a tobacco licence for up to 90 days. Magistrates can issue orders to keep shops closed for longer. 

• Landlords are empowered to end the lease of shops issued long term closure orders.  

• Landlords can be held liable if they knowingly allow leased premises to be used for illicit tobacco trade. 

• Businesses that continue to trade despite closure orders face penalties of up to $2.5 million for corporations and up to $501,840 for individuals or 20 years in jail. 

• Tobacco Licensing Victoria will be more easily able to destroy seized illicit tobacco, avoiding costly storage fees. 

In addition to the April Victorian Government announcement to increase the size of Tobacco Licensing Victoria’s inspection workforce to 42 inspectors, we anticipate today’s news to result in a decrease of illegal sales of tobacco to the Victorian community.  

CEO Cancer Council Victoria, Todd Harper AM, was hopeful the amendments will continue to strengthen tobacco control enforcement. 

“The Victorian Government must take a zero-tolerance approach to the illicit trade, which continues to undermine the public health gains from Australia’s hard-fought tobacco control measures. And there is still more work to do,” Mr Harper said.  

Quit and Cancer Council Victoria will continue to push for further reforms to the Tobacco Act 1987. We aim to ensure Tobacco Licensing Victoria can respond effectively to retailers who continue to flout the rules by illegally selling disposable vapes and other nicotine products, such as oral nicotine pouches—both of which are marketed to young and impressionable potential customers.  

Most importantly, regardless of where you bought it, or how much it cost, all tobacco products contribute to the deaths of 66 Australians a day. And free, personalised help to quit is available.

For support to quit nicotine visit quit.org.au or free call 13 7848. 

ENDS

Media Manager: Prue Gildea M: 0400 394 274 E:  
 prue.gildea@cancervic.org.au