Higher Penalties for Selling Tobacco Products Without Health Warnings
Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2024
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Introduced by: The Hon Courtney Houssos MLC (ALP); The Hon Ryan Park MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Natalie Ward LIB
“I lead for the Opposition in debate on the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2024. I will be brief, as the shadow Minister for Health, Kellie Sloane, has outlined the Opposition’s position. I thank her for her conscientious work and for moving the amendments in the other place. The Opposition supports measures to help combat the harmful and dangerous trade of illicit tobacco.”
Amanda Cohn GRN
“As The Greens spokesperson for health, including mental health, I indicate support for the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2024.”
Rod Roberts IND
“I contribute to debate on the Government’s Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2024. Although I welcome the Government’s efforts to more tightly regulate the tobacco trade and believe that the bill is a step in the right direction, I fear that it does not go far enough to strike fear into the hearts of those who are doing the wrong thing.”
John Ruddick LIBT
“The Libertarian Party opposes the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2024, and we do so with everything we have. This is dumb government at is dumbest. The sale of vape products is already illegal; the bill makes it more illegal. All that will do is enhance the black market and criminality. Vapes are part of this world whether the major parties like it or not.”
Courtney Houssos ALP
“I thank the Hon. Natalie Ward, Ms Amanda Cohn, the Hon. Rod Roberts and the Hon. John Ruddick. A number of amendments will be debated, and I will make comments about those at the Committee stage. I reflect on the Hon. John Ruddick’s speech and say that we are debating the Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2024, which deals with a licensing scheme for tobacco.”
News articles and press releases
Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment Bill (No 2) 2024
Mr RYAN PARK, Minister for Health — 2024-10-24
This bill addresses community expectations in two ways: firstly, by introducing a licensing scheme for businesses that wish to sell tobacco and non-tobacco smoking products; and, secondly, by increasing penalties for certain existing tobacco-related offences. Smoking continues to be the biggest cause of preventable death and disease in New South Wales and Australia. Smoking is a major risk factor for many diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, many types of cancer, and asthma.