Aussie smokers to be hit with tough new laws as Albanese Government launches crack down

Stricter laws to tackle cigarettes and vaping will be unveiled in parliament on Wednesday.

Health Minister Mark Butler said tobacco control legislation is the “critical” next step in the fight against tobacco and nicotine addiction, and reducing the national smoking rate to five percent by 2030.

If passed, graphic warnings on cigarette packages would be updated and extended to individual cigarettes; additives such as menthols could be banned; and in an effort to eradicate vaping, vapes would fall under advertising restrictions.

Mr Butler said tobacco killed about 20,000 Australians every year and was the leading cause of preventable death and disability in the country (stock)

Mr Butler said that after taking the lead with his simple reforms, Australia has become soft in the fight against tobacco addiction.

“Australia has led the way in public health measures to discourage smoking, but after a decade of inaction the gains of Labour’s landmark plain packaging legislation have been squandered,” he said.

He said tobacco killed about 20,000 Australians every year and was the leading cause of preventable death and disability in the country.

By 2030, Labor wants to reduce the national smoking rate to less than five per cent, and that of First Nations to 27 per cent.

If the size of packages and products were passed down, the design of filters would be standardized; ccigarettes and vapes would not be able to use ‘appealing names that imply less harm’, and health promotion leaflets would have to be placed in packaging and pouches.

Graphic warnings on cigarette packs would be updated and extended to individual cigarettes if tough new laws on cigarettes and vaping are introduced

If the legislation is passed, the changes will come into effect from April next year, with the industry given a year to comply.

“Since the inception of plain packaging, big tobacco has become increasingly creative and crafty with their marketing tactics,” Butler said.

“The Coalition has previously been on the wrong side of history on tobacco control. I hope that these new reforms will be welcomed in a bipartisan manner.

“The Government is committed to supporting Australians in tackling nicotine addiction and this next-generation reform will put an end to every form of temptation.”