Up to 15 Years Jail for Selling Large Amounts of Illegal Tobacco and Expanded Search Powers for Police
Tobacco Amendment (Tobacco Retailer and Wholesaler Licensing Scheme) Bill 2024
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Council
Assent
Topics
biometric data business licensing consumer safety criminal penalties law enforcement police powers professional licensing public safety retail regulation tobacco licensing tobacco products tobacco regulation vaping goods +8 more
Introduced by: The Hon Melissa Horne MP (ALP); The Hon Lizzie Blandthorn MLC (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
Tobacco retailers and wholesalers must apply for a licence to lawfully supply tobacco products in Victoria.
Selling tobacco products without a licence, committing indictable offences for fraud or tax evasion, or breaking federal vaping laws are classified as suitability offences for licensing purposes.
The regulator's decisions to refuse, suspend, cancel, or vary a tobacco licence are subject to review.
Licence applicants and holders must identify any associates who have a financial interest or power over the tobacco supply business.
The law creates new offences related to the smoking, possession, and sale of tobacco and non-tobacco products.
Police officers and inspectors have more power to get search warrants to enforce tobacco laws.
The Regulator can now collect photos, fingerprints, and palm prints from people applying to be licensing inspectors.
People who intentionally or recklessly sell or supply a commercial quantity of illegal tobacco can be fined or jailed for up to 15 years.
Selling or supplying any amount of illegal tobacco carries a fine of up to 120 penalty units (2026: $25,092) for individuals or 600 penalty units (2026: $125,460) for companies.
Tobacco business owners who intentionally or recklessly possess a commercial quantity of illegal tobacco can be fined or jailed for up to 5 years.
Tobacco business owners who possess any illegal tobacco can be fined up to 120 penalty units (2026: $25,092) for individuals or 600 penalty units (2026: $125,460) for companies.
People can be fined up to 60 penalty units (2026: $12,546), or 300 penalty units (2026: $62,730) for companies, for making false or misleading statements on tobacco licensing applications.
License applicants and holders must tell the Regulator within 14 days if their information changes or they can be fined up to 60 penalty units (2026: $12,546), or 300 penalty units (2026: $62,730) for companies.