Federal AMA President Danielle McMullen recently attended the Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarettes Commissioner (ITEC) Symposium in Canberra, where urgent policy measures to tackle Australia's illicit tobacco market were front and centre.
The event brought together police, border force officials, criminologists, public health experts and government representatives, including Ms Amber Shuhyta, Commissioner of the Office of the Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner (pictured with Dr McMullen).
Those attending echoed the need to rebalance the high profit, low risk equation that currently attracts organised crime syndicates. The consensus was clear: collaboration across the entire system is essential.
A key theme highlighted at the symposium was the importance of innovative public health messaging to reduce demand and use. Attendees also heard compelling updates from Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales governments on legislative changes that are successfully reducing the number of tobacconists operating with minimal regulatory oversight.
Looking ahead, we will be submitting recommendations to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee inquiry into the illegal tobacco crisis, advocating for a nationally consistent tobacco licensing framework. This would ensure that retailers hold stronger, more scrutinised licenses, but would also introduce requirements for importers, warehouses and distributors.
