Queensland Police Service to Co-Chair National Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Coordination Forum

Joint media release with Queensland Police Service

Queensland Police Service Assistant Commissioner Brian Connors APM will join Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner Amber Shuhyta as co-chair of the National Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Coordination (NITEC) Forum.

Established in 2025, the NITEC Forum brings together Commonwealth, and state and territory agencies across health, law enforcement, regulatory, intelligence and national security portfolios. Its establishment follows the July 2025 appointment of Commissioner Shuhyta to lead the national approach to reducing the illicit tobacco and vape market, disrupting criminal involvement, and minimising harms to public health, safety, and wellbeing.

The forum strengthens national cooperation across illicit tobacco and e-cigarette challenges, including demand reduction strategies, compliance and enforcement, addressing organised crime involvement and promoting joint operation activity to suppress the threat.

Over the coming year, the NITEC Forum will be focused on progressing national momentum on critical priorities, strengthening alignment with serious and organised crime coordination committees, and advancing intergovernmental disruption and demand reduction.

Quotes attributable to Commissioner Shuhyta

“A core feature of the National Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Coordination (NITEC) Forum's design is its co-chairing model, pairing myself at a federal level with a state or territory representative, to ensure jurisdictional interests are at the fore.

“The co-chairing model will also reinforce the importance of collaboration between health and law-enforcement agencies.”

“As a standing member of the NITEC Forum and prior to this, the National Vaping Working Group, Assistant Commissioner Connors brings extensive operational insight and long‑standing commitment to national efforts targeting illicit tobacco and vaping harm.

“All jurisdictions and agencies represented in the NITEC Forum are resolute in cracking down on organised crime syndicates who are profiting from harming the health and safety of our communities.

“On behalf of the NITEC Forum, I acknowledge and thank the outgoing NITEC Forum co-chair, NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM for her significant contribution and leadership, which helped establish strong cross‑agency collaboration and laid important foundations for the next phase of this work.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Police Service Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon

“The NITEC Forum ensures that intelligence, compliance activity and enforcement efforts are aligned across jurisdictions.

“Assistant Commissioner Brian Connors represents the Queensland Police Service as co-chair of the forum to disrupt criminal activity and the illicit tobacco and vape market.

“By strengthening partnerships between health, regulatory and law enforcement, we are better positioned to target organised criminal networks and protect the safety and wellbeing of our communities.”

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