Australia’s illicit tobacco crisis and state/territory enforcement rankings
Consensus Summary
Two news articles analyze a new Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) report ranking states and territories on their response to illicit tobacco, with the Northern Territory (NT) consistently identified as the worst-performing jurisdiction due to outdated laws and weak enforcement. The report, published April 19, 2026, places Queensland first and South Australia second for their strong enforcement and legislative measures, while the NT was ranked last (8th) alongside the ACT. Both sources agree the NT has made no legislative changes and lacks resourced enforcement, contributing to its high smoking rates—nearly one in five deaths are linked to smoking, with Aboriginal communities facing rates five times the national average. ACOSH CEO Laura Hunter urges harsher penalties and increased enforcement, noting illegal tobacco accounts for over half the market and costs the government billions in lost taxes. While ABC emphasizes the NT’s unique challenges, including high Aboriginal smoking rates and the lack of ministerial comment, NEWSCOMAU highlights broader systemic issues, such as NSW’s delayed licensing system and the visibility of illicit tobacco in legal retail spaces. Experts warn that reducing tobacco taxes could worsen the problem by making illicit products even more competitive, and call for a unified national approach.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Northern Territory was ranked last (8th) in Australia for tackling illicit tobacco in the ACOSH report published April 19, 2026.
- Queensland ranked first, followed by South Australia (2nd) and New South Wales (3rd) in the ACOSH Illicit Tobacco Ladder.
- ACOSH CEO Laura Hunter stated the NT has made 'no legislative changes' to address illicit tobacco.
- The report attributed the NT’s poor ranking to 'outdated legislation' and 'lack of resourcing for enforcement agencies'.
- ACOSH ranked jurisdictions based on 'control of the supply chain, resourcing enforcement, and licensing schemes'.
- The NT has the highest percentage of smokers in Australia, with nearly one in five deaths linked to smoking.
- Smoking rates among the NT’s Aboriginal communities are five times higher than the national average.
- ACOSH is an independent advocacy group backed by the Cancer Council, Stroke Foundation, and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
- The report found illegal tobacco made up over half of Australia’s tobacco market, costing the government $7.7 billion in unpaid taxes in 2024-25.
- Queensland was described as having 'the strongest enforcement bench in the country and the most boots on the ground'.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- A 2025 report by Australia’s Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner found illegal tobacco made up more than half of the country’s tobacco market.
- Research from the Menzies School of Health Research found the high cost of tobacco was the biggest factor for people quitting.
- Public health researcher David Thomas said the NT’s illicit tobacco explosion was a 'huge concern' given its vulnerable population.
- The NT Health Department and DTBAR declined ABC interview requests, with DTBAR stating illicit tobacco operations were a Commonwealth responsibility.
- NT Minister for Health Steve Edgington and Minister for Trade Robyn Cahill declined to comment.
- Professor Becky Freeman of USYD criticized Australia’s 'patchwork approach' to illicit tobacco, noting NSW’s licensing system was only implemented in 2025, while Queensland and WA had systems for years.
- Freeman called the illicit tobacco trade an 'in-your-face market' rather than a 'black market', noting its visibility in legal businesses.
- Freeman dismissed Federal Liberal MP Mary Aldred’s claim that cutting fuel excise would reduce illicit tobacco incentives, calling it 'simplistic' and counterproductive to public health.
- Assistant Minister for Customs Julian Hill MP stated that combined Commonwealth, state, and territory efforts were raising stakes for criminals and reducing illicit tobacco profits.
- The ACT was ranked 7th, described as 'talking a good game but not playing one' due to weak penalties and minimal closure orders.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states the NT was ranked 'eighth' in the report, while NEWSCOMAU describes the NT as 'well off the pace' and '7th and 8th on the list' (implying a possible misinterpretation of ranking order).
- ABC reports the $7.7 billion tax loss figure for 2024-25, while NEWSCOMAU does not mention this specific number or year.
- NEWSCOMAU includes a quote from Julian Hill MP about 'combined efforts' reducing illicit tobacco profits, which ABC does not reference.
- ABC highlights the NT’s Aboriginal smoking rates as 'five times higher than the national average', while NEWSCOMAU does not provide this specific statistic.
Source Articles
NT ranked last for illicit tobacco laws in new report
Smoking is one of the leading causes of death in the Northern Territory. Now, the jurisdiction has been ranked the weakest in the country for how it tackles cheap, illicit tobacco.
Worst illicit tobacco states revealed
Aussie states and territories have been ranked based on their response to the illegal tobacco crisis, with two regions described as being ‘totally off pace’ with the others.