In Australia, many healthcare professionals oppose weakening anti-smoking policies.

More than 30 health organizations, medical professionals, and association representatives have sent an open letter to Australian political leaders denouncing proposals to make cigarettes cheaper and expand the commercial sale of e-cigarettes.[1]. According to the signatories, these measures risk increasing smoking and vaping, and leading to more illness, death and healthcare costs.

The letter highlights Australia's achievements in the fight against tobacco use: the daily smoking rate was 5.6 per 100,000 people in 2025, while the daily e-cigarette use rate was 3.6 per 100,000 people. The authors contrast these figures with those of the United Kingdom and New Zealand, where vaping products are, in their view, more widely marketed and used more extensively.

The illicit market cannot be solved by cheaper cigarettes.

The text is signed by several Australian academics and public health experts and supported by researchers and institutions. It is a position paper addressed to policymakers, not an independent assessment of government proposals or their effects. The signatories, including the Australian Council on Tobacco and Health (ACOSH), the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the Australian Lung Foundation, the National Heart Foundation, the Australian and New Zealand Thoracic Society, the Australian Cancer Council, the Australian Public Health Association, and the Australian College of Nurses, acknowledge the scale of the illicit tobacco and nicotine market in Australia, which they link to the activity of criminal networks and increased pressure on police, customs, and regulatory bodies. However, they dispute that tobacco control policies are the cause of this phenomenon. They argue that the illegal market has grown because criminal groups can obtain tobacco cheaply on the global market.

The letter argues that lowering tobacco taxes or relaxing vaping regulations would not eliminate illicit networks and, on the contrary, could increase consumption. It cites Canada, where a reduction in excise duties led not only to the persistence of the illicit trade but also to an increase in smoking.

Strengthen control of the supply chain all the way to sales and support smoking cessation

To combat the illegal trade, the signatories advocate strengthening controls at borders and at all stages of the supply chain. This includes mandatory inspections and verifications for retailers authorized to sell tobacco, and reducing the number of outlets (the letter notes that there are 40,000 shops legally selling tobacco in Australia, compared to 9,500 supermarkets). Finally, harmonizing penalties across the country would strengthen the system. Health stakeholders also call for these measures to be accompanied by sufficient resources for sustained and well-funded enforcement of the law in all jurisdictions.

The authors of the letter also advocate for maintaining the measures that have contributed to the decline in smoking, including regular and significant tax increases, plain packaging, policies to develop smoke-free spaces in conjunction with various communication campaigns, and smoking cessation support programs. They call for easier access to nicotine replacement therapies, notably by making them free, and for funding new information campaigns on the risks associated with tobacco and other nicotine products. The signatories fully support the goal of a tobacco- and nicotine-free generation.

" Every day, doctors witness the devastating effects of smoking and nicotine addiction on patients, families, and communities. »" said Dr. Michael Bonning, WADA's president-elect.« The success of tobacco control in Australia has been built on science-based policies. We must continue to invest in measures that help people quit smoking, including easy access to nicotine replacement therapy and other proven cessation aids. » « The sale of cigarettes is a declining business, as the tobacco industry is well aware. »,« said Mark Brooke, chief executive of the Australian Lung Foundation.« Our elected officials should accelerate its demise and protect Australians, rather than granting this industry a tax cut that would allow it to regain market share, attract new customers and encourage people to smoke longer. »

A warning about the influence of the tobacco and nicotine industry

The authors also question the influence of tobacco manufacturers in Australian political debate, arguing that this contravenes Australia's commitments as a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which the country ratified in 2004. Article 5.3, concerning the obligation to protect public health policies from any industrial interest, and its implementing guidelines, serve as the relevant reference. They are particularly concerned that companies were able to testify behind closed doors, while health organizations and community groups spoke publicly. The letter concludes that the authorities should not backtrack on proven prevention measures simply because their implementation has been weakened by criminal activity.

The warning issued by these health organizations against a possible rollback of tobacco control policies comes amid growing concerns about the global influence of the tobacco industry. According to the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, Scores have deteriorated in 43 countries, a sign of increased pressure on public policies. Among the arguments put forward, that of illicit trade occupies a significant place: An analysis published in 2026 identified several awareness campaigns against the black market funded by manufacturers or related organizations, sometimes used to challenge public health measures.. The case of neighboring New Zealand illustrates the potential consequences of insufficient protection of public decisions against these influences. The country had adopted a generational ban on tobacco sales to people born from 2009 onwards in 2022, along with other ambitious measures in its "Smokefree 2025" strategy. However, the coalition government that came to power repealed these provisions before they came into effect, a reversal that occurred... in a context of intense lobbying and revelations about Philip Morris's approaches to political leaders. A study published in 2026 also notes that the protections provided for in Article 5.3 of the CCLT remain largely unenforced in the country.

©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1]Cheaper Cigarettes Will Kill More Australians – Open Letter to Australia's Political Leaders, Australian Council on Smoking & Health (ACOSH), published October 7, 2026, accessed October 12, 2026

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