Higher penalties for excise and taxation offences
Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026
1st House
2nd House
Law
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Prison terms for certain excise offences jump from 2 to 7 years; fines increase from 500 to 5,000 penalty units.
People possessing tobacco in Australia face absolute liability for specific offences.
Aggravated tobacco offences now carry a penalty of 5 times the duty payable on the goods.
Prison terms for certain taxation administration offences double from 5 to 10 years.
Officers executing search warrants can use electronic equipment to access account-based data; this helps identify tainted property or evidence.
Search warrants must now specify a timeframe for a person to hand over a computer or device if it is not at the searched premises.