Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
Referred to Health, Environment and Innovation Committee
5 members · Chair: Robert Molhoek
Vote on a motion
Party VoteVote on a Greens disallowance motion moved by the member for Maiwar to disallow the Gaming Machine Amendment Regulation 2025, which reduced tax on poker machine authority transfers. The motion was defeated, with both the LNP government and ALP opposition voting against disallowance. This division relates to a separate gambling matter debated between two parts of the Tobacco bill debate.
The motion was rejected.
A formal vote on whether to accept a proposal — this could be the bill itself, an amendment, or another motion.
What is a party vote?
This was a party vote. Each party's Whip declared how their members voted without a physical count, so individual votes were not recorded. Party votes are used when all members of a party are expected to vote the same way.
▸20 members spoke20 support
As Minister for Small and Family Business, spoke in support emphasising the bill protects legitimate small businesses from being undercut by illegal operators and organised crime in the illicit tobacco trade.
“Since coming to office, the Crisafulli government has cracked down on rogue traders harder than any government before or elsewhere in Australia.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Moved the second reading as Health Minister, highlighting the government's enforcement results including seizure of half a million vapes and 57 million illicit cigarettes, and defending the bill's new measures targeting landlords, closure powers and executive liability.
“This bill is the Crisafulli government's latest escalation in its war against rogue tobacco and vape traders.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Welcomed the bill as continuing the good work of the previous Labor government in tackling illicit tobacco and nicotine products to reduce preventable deaths from smoking.
“It is welcome to see this government continue the good work of the previous Labor government in tackling illicit tobacco and nicotine products.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Announced Labor supports the bill, noting it builds on the architecture Labor designed when in government. Supported the strengthened closure powers, landlord protections, and enforcement tools while calling for more investment in cessation support.
“Labor will support this bill. We back strong, targeted action to dismantle the illegal tobacco and vape market. The opposition will be supporting this bill.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Spoke in strong support, sharing personal experience of nicotine addiction from age 15 and observations as a school-based police officer of vaping being out of control in schools.
“I rise to speak in strong support of the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill as a government backbencher, highlighting the impact of illegal tobacco on her community.
“I rise to support the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Confirmed Labor opposition support for the bill, emphasising decades of sustained effort by Labor governments to reduce smoking rates and protect young people.
“As has been made clear already by speakers on this side of the House, we will be supporting this bill.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill as an ALP member, recognising the serious public health threat from illegal vapes and tobacco.
“I rise to speak on the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products (Dismantling Illegal Trade) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill's focus on dismantling illegal trade, noting legitimate businesses in his electorate like Store 309 are being impacted by illegal operators.
“The really important part of this bill is the dismantling of the illegal trade.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill, noting he had previously pushed for similar amendments through committee processes.
“I rise to speak in support of this bill.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, contrasting the Crisafulli government's stronger approach with Labor's inadequate framework and low penalties that allowed vaping rates among high school students to triple.
“The steps taken by the Crisafulli LNP state government since coming to office have been deliberate and substantial.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill as an LNP backbencher from a regional electorate.
“I rise to speak in support of the bill.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill and highlighted Labor's previous $5 million investment to tackle vaping in schools through the Blurred Minds Academy program.
“I rise to speak on this bill. We are going to support it.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill as an LNP backbencher, emphasising the importance of combating illegal tobacco trade.
“I rise to speak in support of the bill.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Shared personal experience of losing both parents and mother-in-law to tobacco-related diseases, and supported the bill while acknowledging Queensland's world-leading work in reducing tobacco use.
“I am delighted to be standing here in support of this bill because it is an important piece of work that goes to protecting the health of all Queenslanders.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill as the final ALP speaker before the debate was adjourned, emphasising strong enforcement and support for legitimate businesses.
“The Opposition supports strong enforcement powers.”— 2025-11-18View Hansard
Supported the bill, sharing that her mother died of lung cancer from smoking, and noted that illicit tobacco has caused $6.7 billion in lost national excise revenue.
“The Labor opposition will always support expert backed measures that improve Queenslanders' health and reduce smoking rates.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill, sharing that both his parents died from smoking-related causes, and praised the committee's recommendation that the bill be passed.
“This bill is an important step in further protecting the health of Queenslanders.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Expressed opposition support for the bill, noting it builds on decades of harm minimisation work by Labor governments including smoke-free areas and plain packaging.
“The opposition has expressed its support for this bill.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
Supported the bill to protect legitimate small businesses like the Mundubbera Newsagency and Gayndah Newsagency from unfair competition by illicit tobacco sellers.
“Legitimate small business owners who are licensed to operate in this state are now having their livelihoods threatened and taken away from them.”— 2025-11-19View Hansard
That the amendment be agreed to
Vote on amendment to motion to note committee report, amended to remove acknowledgement of previous Labor government action
The motion passed.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (51)
Noes (34)
That the motion, as amended, be agreed to
Vote on amended motion to note the committee report on the Tobacco bill
The motion passed.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (51)
Noes (34)
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill dramatically strengthens Queensland's enforcement powers against illegal tobacco and nicotine vape sales. It extends business closure periods from 72 hours to 3 months, creates new criminal and civil penalties for landlords who allow illegal sales on their premises, and enables undercover operations to catch offenders.
Who it affects
Illegal tobacco and vape operators face much harsher penalties and longer closures, while their landlords can now be prosecuted for turning a blind eye. Young people are intended beneficiaries, as the bill aims to reduce access to unregulated nicotine products that have caused youth vaping rates to triple.
Key changes
- Short-term business closures extended from 72 hours to 3 months, with long-term closures up to 12 months
- New criminal offence for landlords who knowingly permit illegal tobacco or vape sales, carrying up to 1 year imprisonment and 1,000 penalty units
- Civil penalties up to 5,000 penalty units for corporations whose landlords turn a blind eye to illegal activity
- Landlords can terminate commercial leases immediately when a closure order is issued
- All legal tobacco stock and hookahs can be seized if found alongside illicit products
- Undercover purchase operations authorised to gather evidence against illegal sellers
- Company directors personally liable unless they prove they took steps to prevent corporate offending