Health advocates slam decision to let tobacco industry give secret briefing
4 May 2026 – Tobacco industry lobbyists have been allowed to give a secret briefing to a senate inquiry in what health advocates have described as a “sleazy attempt to covertly influence policy in the name of profit”.
The Senate Inquiry into Illegal Tobacco today heard from the Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH) that any attempt to tackle the illegal trade that does not bring down smoking rates and prevent deaths will be a failure.
ACOSH CEO Laura Hunter said the industry’s push for a cut to the tobacco excise was an obvious attempt to shore up their profits and sell more of their deadly products.
“For the first time in 16 years, the tobacco industry has been invited to appear before a government inquiry. Not just that, but they have been allowed to testify in secret,” Ms Hunter said.
“This is the same industry whose products kill 66 Australians every day. The same industry that profits from addiction. Why would anyone listen to what they have to say about a public health issue?”
Earlier today, ACOSH laid 66 bodybags on the lawn of Parliament House to represent the 66 daily deaths from tobacco.
Images available for download here
“The Senate Inquiry must not lose sight of the 66 people who lose their life every day because of this industry’s products,” Ms Hunter said.
“You don’t invite the arsonist in to help design the fire safety plan.
“The tobacco industry are clearly content with continuing to kill people in order to protect their profits.”
ACOSH is calling for stronger enforcement to crack down on the illegal tobacco trade
“We’ve got to make it much harder to sell illicit tobacco, much easier to get caught, and have much more serious consequences,” Ms Hunter said.
“We need stronger enforcement, tougher penalties, and a coordinated national response.”
“The answer to illicit tobacco is not cheaper cigarettes – the answer is to disrupt the illegal market. If a policy doesn’t save lives, it has no place in this debate.”
MEDIA CONTACT: Iona Salter, 0413 185 634 or iona.salter@essentialmedia.com.au
For those looking to quit smoking or vaping, visit quit.org.au or call quit 13 78 48 for free confidential advice and support.
ACOSH is an independent, non-government, not for profit coalition which represents 31 prominent health, research, social service and community organisations with a shared concern about smoking and vaping and their harmful consequences.
ACOSH has been a leading advocate for all the regulatory and legislative changes to reduce the impact of smoking on the Australian community and is supported by the Healthway – the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation.