News
25 September, 2025
Vaping crackdown
Tobacco stores and landlords selling illegal vapes are being put on notice by the State Government, as it introduced The Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 to Parliament on September 16.
This comes as the Government continues its 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.
Between November 1, 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 children.
“We have taken a zero-tolerance approach to this criminal trade, by ramping up enforcement efforts and introducing the highest on-the-spot fines in Australia,” he said.
“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 new laws to combat the sale of illicit tobacco.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
CEO Cancer Council Queensland, Matt Gardiner, also commended the Bill.
“We support the introduction of these amendments which give authorities greater power to shut down illegal tobacco and vape dealers,” Mr Gardiner said.
“These reforms are essential to safeguard decades of progress in tobacco control and ensure stronger protections for Queensland communities.”
