Queensland Government Mulling Harsher Penalties for E-Cigarette Sales

Jan.06.2025
Queensland Government Mulling Harsher Penalties for E-Cigarette Sales
Queensland government considers stricter penalties for selling e-cigarettes and illegal tobacco products, aiming to combat illicit trade effectively.

According to Sky News on January 5, the Queensland government is considering imposing stricter penalties on stores selling e-cigarettes and illegal tobacco products.


The state's Minister of Health, Tim Nicholls, has expressed his desire to completely eradicate illegal tobacco and e-cigarette trade.


Nicholls expressed concern about the current on-the-spot fines, with individual fines capped at only $3,200 AUD and company fines at a maximum of $10,000 AUD. He pointed out that this is just a drop in the ocean compared to the huge profits of these criminal enterprises.


These fines have not had a deterrent effect, we must hit them financially.


He is currently discussing with the Attorney General for stricter punishment measures and more effective enforcement strategies.


In the past six months, the state has seized nearly 9 million illegal cigarettes and 44,000 e-cigarettes from the market.


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