Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026

Type
Government
Portfolio
Home Affairs
Originating house
House of Representatives
Status
Before Reps
Parliament no
48

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Summary

Amends the: Customs Act 1901, Excise Act 1901 and Taxation Administration Act 1953 to increase penalties for offences relating to the importation, possession, buying, selling, supply, production or manufacture of illicit tobacco; Taxation Administration Regulations 2017 to make consequential amendments; Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 to enable law enforcement and intelligence agencies to apply for telecommunications interception warrants for the purpose of investigating illicit tobacco-related offences; Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to: include additional grounds for making a non-publication order and expand the types of information and documents which can be protected by those orders; enable responsible authorities to seek examination orders in certain circumstances; enable the sharing of certain information; enable jurisdictions that have signed up to the Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Cooperative Scheme on Unexplained Wealth to participate in equitable sharing arrangements; remove the requirement for a court to make a preliminary unexplained wealth order before considering an application for an unexplained wealth order; and enable the postal or electronic service of documents; and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and 3 other Acts to establish a search warrant framework.

Progress

House of Representatives
Introduced and read a first time 26 Mar 2026
Second reading moved 26 Mar 2026

Documents and transcripts

Text of bill

Explanatory memoranda

Proposed amendments

No proposed amendments have been circulated.

Schedules of amendments

No documents at present

Bills digest

Notes

Helpful information

Text of bill

  • First reading: Text of the bill as introduced into the Parliament
  • Third reading: Prepared if the bill is amended by the house in which it was introduced. This version of the bill is then considered by the second house.
  • As passed by both houses: Final text of bill agreed to by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent.

Explanatory memoranda

  • Explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and provides an explanation of the content of the introduced version (first reading) of the bill.
  • Supplementary explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains amendments proposed by the government to the bill.
  • Revised explanatory memorandum: Accompanies and explains the amended version (third reading) of the bill. It supersedes the explanatory memorandum.

Proposed amendments

Circulated by members and senators when they propose to make changes to the bill. For details about the outcome of proposed amendments please refer to either the Votes and Proceedings (House of Representatives) or the Journals (Senate).

Schedules of amendments

Schedules of amendments list amendments agreed to by the second house are communicated to the first house for consideration. Subsequent action by either house may also be included in a schedule.

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