News and media

• The Albanese Government has appointed Amber Shuhyta as the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette (ITEC) Commissioner.
  Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner appointment(Opens in a new tab/window).
• Statement from the Office of the ITEC Commissioner - 12 March 2024
  The Office of the ITEC Commissioner welcomes the additional funding to combat the issue of illicit tobacco.
• Communiqué - for public release 11 December 2024.
  United Front: Against the Illicit Trade of Tobacco and E-Cigarettes.
• Media release 11 December 2024.
  Whole of government approach to combating illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.
• Appointment of the Acting ITEC commissioner, stepping up the fight against illegal nicotine products.
  Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner(Opens in a new tab/window).
• The Australian Government has launched a new public health campaign to encourage young people to stop vaping and discourage uptake.
  National Campaign to Help Young People Quit Vaping(Opens in a new tab/window).
• Minister Butler’s media release (14 January 2024) announcing efforts to tackle illegal tobacco imports.
  Crackdown on Illegal Tobacco Imports(Opens in a new tab/window).

Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner Report 2024-25  

The Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette (ITEC) Commissioner has published the first report on Australia's illicit tobacco and e-cigarette market. This report provides a centralised, data-driven assessment to help counter illicit trade and its damaging health and community impacts, and identifies areas to guide the way forward.

See the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner Report 2024-25.

Engagement Register

We engage with a variety of stakeholders to gather diverse perspectives, develop comprehensive advice for government, and support a nationally coordinated response to combatting illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.

As part of this work, it is sometimes necessary to meet with representatives of the tobacco industry. These meetings occur strictly in line with the ITEC Commissioner’s functions under the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023. This is in accordance with Australia’s obligations under Article 8 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

All interactions with the tobacco industry follow the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Guidance for public officials(Opens in a new tab/window). This ensures public health policies remain protected from industry influence.

See the up-to-date register of meetings and Engagements with non gov stakeholders (98KB PDF).

National Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Coordination (NITEC) Forum

(formerly National Vaping Working Group)

On 23 November 2023, the government’s Health and Police Ministers established the National Vaping Working Group (NVWG). The NVWG held its first official meeting with representatives from Commonwealth, state and territory health and police on 30 January 2024.

On 2 October 2024, co-chair arrangements transferred from the Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner to the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette (ITEC) Commissioner. The ITEC Commissioner and Secretary of the NSW Ministry of Health now co-chair the meetings.

The NVWG adopted revised Terms of Reference on 18 June 2025. It changed its name to the National Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Coordination (NITEC) Forum. The first meeting under the revision was on 20 August 2025. NITEC will continue to meet bi-monthly and will publish communiques after each meeting.

For all NVWG Communiques before the 12 February 2025 meeting, refer to the Therapeutic Goods Administration website(Opens in a new tab/window).

• NITEC Forum Communique 15 October 2025 (120KB PDF)
• NITEC Forum Communique 20 August 2025 (313KB PDF)
• NVWG Communique 18 June 2025 (85KB PDF)
• NVWG Communique 7 May 2025 (100KB PDF)
• NVWG Communique 12 February 2025 (655.96KB PDF)

Health and regulations

• Learn more about smoking, vaping, and tobacco laws in Australia, and their impact on public health.
  Department of Health and Aged Care(Opens in a new tab/window).
• Strategy aimed at improving public health by reducing tobacco use and its associated costs.
  National Tobacco Strategy 2023–2030(Opens in a new tab/window).
• Information on how vapes are defined and regulated in Australia, including any recent regulatory changes.
  Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) - Vaping hub(Opens in a new tab/window).

Enforcement and reporting

• The Australian Border Force's (ABF) Illicit Tobacco Taskforce proactively targets and disrupts organised crime syndicates dealing in illicit tobacco. If you know someone who might be involved in importing illegal tobacco, report them at Border Watch(Opens in a new tab/window).
  Learn more about the Australian Border Force's (ABF) Illicit Tobacco Taskforce(Opens in a new tab/window).
   
• Learn how the ATO fights illegal activity associated with illegal tobacco. Report it being grown, manufactured or sold in your community using the ATO’s tip-off form(Opens in a new tab/window).
   
• The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) compliance and enforcement hub(Opens in a new tab/window) shares news and information about the compliance activities of the TGA. If you suspect someone of illegally importing, manufacturing, supplying, or commercially possessing or advertising vapes and vaping goods, report them using TGA - Report a Breach(Opens in a new tab/window).
  Visit the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) compliance and enforcement hub(Opens in a new tab/window).
   
• You can also report illegal tobacco and e‑cigarettes in your local community to Crimestoppers(Opens in a new tab/window).