The Albanese Government has appointed Amber Shuhyta as the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette (ITEC) Commissioner, to continue the fight against illicit tobacco and those who profit from it.
The ITEC Commissioner role was established by the Albanese Government on 1 July 2024 to coordinate national efforts to combat the threat of illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes to the Australian community.
Ms Shuhyta commences work on 1 July 2025, to lead a comprehensive and coordinated approach to the growing threat posed by illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes in Australia.
As ITEC Commissioner, Ms Shuhyta will support the development and implementation of national strategies, drive whole-of-government outcomes and a unified, national response to illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.
Ms Shuhyta has mostly recently been the Assistant Secretary, Primary Care Strategy/Access and Integration at the Department of Health and Aged Care, where she has had policy and program responsibility for the delivery of major government commitments.
Prior to this, Ms Shuhyta was Acting Group Manager, Women's Safety at the Department of Social Services, where she expanded programs across Australia and drove national consistency for flagship activities such as 1800Respect.
Ms Shuhyta takes over from interim ITEC Commissioner, Ms Erin Dale, whose appointment concluded on 30 June 2025. We thank Ms Dale for her dedicated service over the past 12 months and her efforts in establishing the Office of the ITEC Commissioner, which will provide the foundations for future success.
Since its establishment, the ITEC Commissioner has worked across government to combat the threat of illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.
The Government has invested over $350 million, taking decisive action to end the trade of illicit tobacco and tackle the black market.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke MP:
"Ms Shuhyta's appointment reinforces the Government's commitment to stamping out the black market trade in nicotine products to protect the Australian community.
"The ITEC Commissioner will work side by side with state and territory authorities, to assist those jurisdictions with the challenges caused by the scourge of illicit tobacco."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Mark Butler MP:
"Traders selling illicit tobacco might think this is a relatively harmless, innocuous trade, but it's undermining the public health of Australians.
"Every time they sell a packet of these illegal cigarettes, they are bankrolling the criminal activities of some of the vilest, worst organised criminal gangs in this country.
"Through the work of the ITEC Commissioner we want to see enforcement activity at state level increase, and we're resourcing states to undertake more prosecutions."
