Black market hotspots
in Australia
There's a steady feed of stories about illegal tobacco and vapes in the news.
But when you put it all together, you can see Australia has a vast problem that reaches every part of the country.
Politicians want you to think illegal tobacco and vaping markets are under control. But an arrest here and a raid here barely puts a dent in the problem.
Click around the map below to see the vast extent of the illicit tobacco and vape markets around Australia.
WE SEE JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
It’s time to admit that government policies like tax increases and restricted availability have helped fuel the black market. The only beneficiaries are criminals. Some simple stats:
Illegal tobacco usage has skyrocketed from 8.3% in 2007 to 23.5% of the market in 2022
The use of nicotine vaping products has increased by 191% in two years, while only a tiny number of GPs will prescribe them as required by law
92% of nicotine vaping products are purchased illegally
A seizure here or an arrest there is not going to scare off the criminals. We need wholesale policy reform, including tougher enforcement.
LEt ministers know
The Prime Minister, Treasurer, Home Affairs Minister and the Health Minister all want sensible vaping policy that will put a stop to the vape black market, to keep illegal devices out of children’s hands. Tell them what you think.
