Illegal tobacco and vape crackdown continues with new nation-leading laws

• Crisafulli Government is cracking down on illegal tobacco and vape traders with new laws giving authorities the power to shut down illegal traders on-the-spot for three months.
• Landlords will gain a new power to terminate leases with illegal operators, while landlords who knowingly permit illegal activity in their premises will face harsh fines and even jail time.
• Queensland Health officers will be granted the authority to conduct undercover investigations to target illegal operations. 
• Crisafulli Government is delivering strong new laws to crackdown on the illegal tobacco trade in its first 10 months, after a decade of decline under Labor. 

The Crisafulli Government is delivering the nation’s strongest illicit tobacco and vape laws, putting illegal tobaccos stores and their landlords on notice.

The Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 has been introduced to Parliament today, continuing the Crisafulli Government’s crackdown on criminal networks peddling illegal cigarettes, ‘chop chop’, vapes and nicotine pouches to kids. 

The changes will allow Queensland Health to shut down illegal businesses on-the-spot for three months (up from 72 hours), while the courts will be empowered to close businesses for up to 12 months (up from a maximum of six months). 

Under these reforms, landlords will also be given the power to terminate the leases of illegal operators.  

There is also a new criminal offence for commercial landlords who knowingly permit illegal tobacco or activity, with a maximum penalty of a $161,300 fine and one year in jail. 

The new laws will empower Queensland Health to seize all lawful smoking products found at illegal stores that are ‘tainted’ by being alongside illicit tobacco and vapes. 

Queensland Health officers will also be allowed to conduct undercover operations at illicit tobacco and vape stores. 

During Labor’s decade of decline, black-market traders were allowed to set up illegal chop shops on street corners across the State, selling potentially lethal products to Queensland kids. 

Under the Crisafulli Government, between 1 November 2024 and August 2025, more than 420,000 illegal vapes, 52.4 million illicit cigarettes and 7,500 kilograms of loose tobacco have been seized by Queensland Health. 

Over 140 interim (3-day) closure orders have been issued, and more than 3,000 fines imposed. 

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said these new laws cemented the Government’s commitment to stamping out the criminal trade and preventing tobacco products falling into the hands of our children.  

“Labor allowed organised criminals to undermine enforcement efforts and threaten legitimate businesses, while they pedalled their addictive and cancer-causing products to our kids,” Minister Nicholls said.   

“The Crisafulli Government has taken a zero-tolerance approach to this criminal trade, by ramping up enforcement efforts and introducing the highest on-the-spot fines in Australia. 

“We need to stop this game of whack-a-mole where every time we hit an illegal business, it reopens within days or another springs up in its place. 

“We’re pulling out all stops to help keep our kids safe, hitting illegal sellers harder and closing them for longer, with landlords also held accountable. 

“This is about shutting down the criminal illegal tobacco racket which is putting our kids at risk.” 

Chief Executive of the Shopping Centre Council of Australia, Angus Nardi, welcomed the Queensland Government’s new laws to combat the sale of illicit tobacco head-on.  

“The new laws are strong, clear and will give landlords the backing and protections they need to terminate the leases for anyone found selling illicit tobacco and issued with a closure order,” Mr Nardi said. 

“We commend Health Minister Tim Nicholls for his engagement on these laws, which are nation leading, common sense, and will have a real and positive impact on community safety.   

“These laws will be a model for other jurisdictions, and we look forward to working with Minister Nicholls and the Government to help ensure their effective implementation.” 

Matt Gardiner, CEO Cancer Council Queensland commended the Government's introduction of this nation-leading Bill as a vital step to protect public health, helping prevent cancer and other chronic diseases.   

“We support the introduction of these amendments which give authorities greater power to shut down illegal tobacco and vape dealers,” Mr Gardiner.   

“These reforms are essential to safeguard decades of progress in tobacco control and ensure stronger protections for Queensland communities.”