David Moncrieff
Hughes · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“We're extending paid parental leave to a full six months, giving families more time with their little ones and more support, because, unlike those opposite, we believe in supporting parents as they raise the next generation.”
“Yesterday was 1 July, a day that saw significant reform from the Albanese Labor government implemented. Starting this week, the Labor government is delivering more cost-of-living relief for workers in Hughes.”
“This legislation ensures that Defence and DVA are better equipped to intervene early and effectively when members, veterans and their families are at risk, saving lives before it's too late. The Albanese Labor government's record of investment for Defence and veteran communities is profound.”
“We have already made substantial progress in fixing the mess left to us by the previous government, under which a backlog of 42,000 claims were never even looked at. That wasn't an accidental oversight. It was a predictable outcome from a party that holds the gutting of Public Service jobs and wage suppression as a proud part of its DNA.”
“My community in Hughes is home to a significant veteran community, ranging across the Sutherland Shire around the Holsworthy Barracks and Moorebank, out to the Macarthur region in areas like Macquarie Fields and Glenfield. I'm sure that many know the gut-wrenching feeling of losing a loved one to suicide.”
“These include aspects such as the establishment of a brain injury program, transformation of research into outcomes, support for service members to transition into civilian life, a new agency focused on veteran wellbeing, improvement in the timeliness of information-sharing between Defence and DVA for claims processing, and much more.”
The complete record
Every one of 366 lines we hold for David Moncrieff, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 8.
“We're extending paid parental leave to a full six months, giving families more time with their little ones and more support, because, unlike those opposite, we believe in supporting parents as they raise the next generation. We're making urgent care clinics, like those in Liverpool and Campbelltown, a permanent part of Medicare so Australians can get the health care they need when they need it, not when they feel that they can afford it. We're giving first home buyers a fair go because, when Australians work hard and save, they should be able to buy a home of their own. Lower taxes, higher pay, a fair go for families and first home buyers—that's the real change that matters to Australians, and it's the real change that we'll keep delivering, even if those opposite keep defending the status quo that hasn't worked.”
“Yesterday was 1 July, a day that saw significant reform from the Albanese Labor government implemented. Starting this week, the Labor government is delivering more cost-of-living relief for workers in Hughes. Every worker is getting another round of income tax cuts, saving the average taxpayer up to $2,800 a year, a tax cut that those opposite voted against. Three million minimum-wage workers will be getting a pay rise of 4.75 per cent, a pay rise backed by those on this side but not backed by the three right-wing parties over there. We're banning supermarket price gouging to give Australians a fair go at the check-out—one they're not getting under the status quo that those opposite defend.”
“For those who give everything, it is the responsibility of this government, of Defence and of community leaders to work hard at improving and strengthening the support system for our veterans, and to act at pace to reduce the tragic rate of suicide and suicidality in our defence community. The Albanese government takes this responsibility with the utmost seriousness and is committed to improving outcomes for our veterans. I commend this bill to the House.”
“The information-sharing provisions in this bill support them by allowing the Public Service and other relevant actors to perform their role more effectively and strengthen the broader ecosystem of support. The reality is that for far too long, too many veterans have put their lives at risk in the highest level of service to our country, only to struggle to adapt to civilian life while navigating a dauntingly complex support system. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide shone a light on the consequences of these critical safety nets failing to catch veterans when they needed help the most. Not only have the Albanese government voiced their ambition to fix this system, we have acted and we are delivering.”
“This brings the Albanese Labor government's total spend on veterans' health care, support and compensation to $15 billion. That's $5 billion more than the Morrison government spent in their last year of office. This spending is carefully targeted with the establishment of a national veterans data set as part of this plan to better inform evidence based policy evaluation and service delivery. RSL sub branches, peer support networks and local coffee groups are often the first point of contact for veterans doing it tough. In my electorate, there are many fantastic groups that provide a sense of camaraderie and shared experiences. The families and carers who support those living with physical and psychological wounds of service also provide unparalleled love and support for these veterans.”
“The hub will provide services and support related to wellbeing claims, social connection and pathways to health, employment, housing and community services. The bill before us today sets the legislative framework by which new services and facilities like the Bardia veterans and families hub can most effectively operate. When service providers are linked and effectively communicate with each other, veterans engage with a more holistic support network that is more likely to make effective interventions and facilitate improved long-term wellbeing. From today, 1 July, we are also launching the Veteran and Families Wellbeing Agency with $78 million in funding to support veterans and their families as they transition out of service.”
“The new Bardia veterans and families hub will preserve this cherished history with a museum of local military history while being repurposed to provide extensive new support for veterans' wellbeing and access to services. Over 19,000 veterans across south-west Sydney will benefit from this new hub that will form part of an integrated support system for ADF members, veterans and their families. This is a significant investment in the wellbeing of our local defence community and a celebration of their immense contribution to our local area and to our country. It's a project that the member for Werriwa was a fierce advocate for when Ingleburn, Bardia and Macquarie Fields were part of the Werriwa electorate.”
“Our community will soon be able to access a new veterans and families hub at the historic Bardia Barracks site on the former Ingleburn Military Army Camp. Ingleburn holds a rich heritage for our Defence community, and Bardia Barracks is a proud part of this story, having been a major training camp for infantry units in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. During the 1990s, many buildings were ravaged by fire and units began to be transferred to other military camps. It had been vacant since the turn of the century and had recently been occupied by the Ingleburn Military Precinct Association, catering for RSL sub-branches, school visits and historical tours.”
“This legislation ensures that Defence and DVA are better equipped to intervene early and effectively when members, veterans and their families are at risk, saving lives before it's too late. The Albanese Labor government's record of investment for Defence and veteran communities is profound. It extends from system-wide changes to make it easier for veterans to access support to early interventions and to on-the-ground facilities to support health and wellbeing. My electorate of Hughes spans across southern Sydney, from the edge of the Royal National Park through the Shire and Holsworthy over to the Macarthur region, including suburbs such as Ingleburn and Glenfield. It is home to more than 3,600 current serving and former ADF members. It hosts the Holsworthy Army Barracks, a range of proud RSL sub-branches and veterans' social groups.”
“The royal commission found that while systems can hold information critical to the support of veterans wellbeing, deficiencies in integrated information-sharing between relevant bodies can result in agencies operating in silos, producing delays or gaps in access. No veteran should fall through the cracks because of agencies not talking to one another. That's why schedule 1 of this bill allows entrusted persons to collect and use relevant information to support a veteran's health and wellbeing. The other measures in this bill are also important, relating to the determination of benefits to former partners of Defence members in circumstances of family and domestic violence, clearing up a system that, previously, could be too difficult and draining for victims to navigate.”
“The bill also provides a framework for the defence health system, including the provision of defence health services. The new powers are carefully balanced by privacy safeguards and guidelines. It inserts a new clause in the Defence Act focused on health and wellbeing support for veterans and their families and amends the Military Rehabilitation Compensation Act to give the Repatriation Commission more powers to provide wellbeing supports for ADF members transitioning into civilian life. This transition point into civilian life was identified by the royal commission as a particularly high-risk moment. It is critical that our safety nets and support systems work as effectively as possible to facilitate veterans as they transition back into the civilian community.”
“We have already made substantial progress in fixing the mess left to us by the previous government, under which a backlog of 42,000 claims were never even looked at. That wasn't an accidental oversight. It was a predictable outcome from a party that holds the gutting of Public Service jobs and wage suppression as a proud part of its DNA. Our government was elected on a commitment to properly resource the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Thanks to the Albanese Labor government's increased staffing and resources for DVA, all new liability and incapacity claims are now allocated for processing within a two-week time frame. This is not just about abstract efficiency gains. It means that veterans are able to receive support when they need it, in a timely and compassionate manner, closing gaps and delays in service and saving lives.”
“These include aspects such as the establishment of a brain injury program, transformation of research into outcomes, support for service members to transition into civilian life, a new agency focused on veteran wellbeing, improvement in the timeliness of information-sharing between Defence and DVA for claims processing, and much more. The information-sharing provisions permit ministers to authorise the collection, use and disclosure of information concerning current and former ADF members by entrusted persons. Better information-sharing allows for a more integrated approach across departments and agencies, allowing continuity of care and for effective interventions to be made sooner. It will enable claims to be processed more efficiently, which is a measure of great importance to many veterans in my community.”
“The bill in consideration today is a large stride forward, directly implementing 15 recommendations and facilitating the implementation of 20 others. These include the direct implementation of recommendations 22, 61, 62, 64, 78, 80, 87, 94, 102, 106, 107, 108, 115, 116 and 121, as well as supporting recommendations 2, 5, 8, 14, 33, 39, 58, 59, 60, 65, 67, 68, 72, 74, 88, 98, 103, 113, 114 and 122. These recommendations are broadly focused on enhancing health, wellbeing and safety outcomes by improving information sharing and modernising governance arrangements.”
“The Australian Defence Force prides itself on the virtues of mateship, mentorship, discipline and service, and experiences in the ADF evoke these strengths of character. These positive aspects of military service are also protective factors against suicide and suicidality, instilling a sense of purpose and camaraderie amongst members. However, risks and protective factors can interact in ways that are often difficult to understand, with several diverse components often at play. What is clear is that the prevalence of suicide and suicidality in the veteran community is significant and that it is unacceptable. It is a burning platform, and our government has not wasted a day in advancing the large body of work required to implement the royal commission's recommendations.”
“As explained in the royal commission's report, ADF members are often placed in high-risk environments in service to their country. They are expected to live and work in extremely physically and mentally demanding situations and are exposed to high levels of stress, ranging from combat related deployments to domestic operations, natural disaster responses and humanitarian peacekeeping missions. Training can involve physically intensive live-fire exercises, explosives and training that simulates warlike conditions. These experiences are critical to ensuring that ADF members operate at the highest standards of performance and that our soldiers are able to act with maximum lethality in combat situations.”
“The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is the result of years of hard-fought advocacy by the family and friends of military personnel who have taken their own lives, as well as current and former ADF members fighting for better outcomes. More than 50 inquiries and reviews with over 750 recommendations relevant to suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving ADF members went into the work of the commission, and its reporting is a watershed for unveiling the reality that the families and friends of those lives lost to suicide know personally only too well. While suicide is a complex personal and public health issue, there is a vast body of credible research on the risk factors for suicidality.”
“My community in Hughes is home to a significant veteran community, ranging across the Sutherland Shire around the Holsworthy Barracks and Moorebank, out to the Macarthur region in areas like Macquarie Fields and Glenfield. I'm sure that many know the gut-wrenching feeling of losing a loved one to suicide. In opposition, we acknowledged the national tragedy of veteran suicides and have supported the work of the royal commission since coming to government. In December 2024 our response accepted the overwhelming majority of the commission's 122 recommendations. By the end of this year, we will have implemented two-thirds of these recommendations, and the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is a critical step in facilitating or directly fulfilling 35 recommendations.”
“The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide final report does not just make harrowing reading; it is a cry for leaders in government, Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs to arrest the deeply tragic rate of suicide and suicidality among serving and formerly serving members of the Australian Defence Force. The numbers are confronting. The latest three-year suicide rate during 2021-23 was 26.4 deaths per 100,000 per year for ex-serving males, 16 for permanent males, 15.2 for reserve males and 10 for ex-serving females. We know that behind every number is a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a son, a daughter, a friend.”
“I want to thank Fay McCabe, secretary of the museum, and her team, including the volunteers, who do so much to keep transport heritage alive in southern Sydney with the preservation of heritage trams, for creating a fun day out for families, with trips into the Royal National Park and to Sutherland entertaining all generations of families.”
“It's now been 65 years since the closure of the original tramway network in Sydney, which was once the largest tramway network in Australia and the second largest in the Commonwealth, after London. While we now have a new light-rail network in Sydney, that former network is an important part of Sydney's heritage. Loftus, in my electorate, is home to a unique institution in New South Wales: the Sydney Tramway Museum, which does really important work preserving this heritage and the broader transport heritage of Australia. It was fantastic to attend the museum for their annual Trams After Dark event during the week of the winter solstice and to see trams lit up in splendour.”
“I was delighted to attend the 50th anniversary celebration gala. The night included performances by shire based musical and acting talents, including Emma Pask, Alex Baum, Dana Alison, Tyler Carney-Faleatua, Ev & Bow and Ettingshausens, alongside members of the Miranda Musical Theatre Company, Engadine Musical Society, Sutherland Shire Brass band and Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra. The night was capped off by the play Toy Symphony by playwright and director Michael Gow with actor Sam O'Sullivan, which was set and written in the Sutherland Shire, followed by a visual exhibition and canapes in the main foyer. It was truly a night to remember, and it is fantastic to be able to celebrate this cultural institution, which brings joy to so many across my electorate and beyond.”
“While this sleep-out was nothing compared to the lived experience of those sleeping rough every night, it was an eye-opening experience to gain a little more perspective into what it's like for those doing it tough. Thank you so much to Karen Power, Sabrina and all the team at Georges River Life Care for having me along and to everyone who donated to this very important cause. This month the Sutherland Pavilion had its 50th birthday. Built in the 1970s to host spectacular local music performances, the old Sutherland Entertainment Centre underwent major refurbishments in 2023 and now boasts a 683-seat auditorium, orchestra pit and stunning timber and glass foyer. The new venue hosts a wide range of musical and theatrical performances and is a much-loved cultural hub in the Sutherland Shire.”
“Homelessness is one of the most urgent social challenges facing our community. No-one should be left without a safe place to call home. Too often we speak about homelessness as an abstract issue, disconnected from the complex and difficult experiences of those sleeping rough. That's why I was grateful to be able to join the Sleeping Rough program hosted by Georges River Life Care last week, to express solidarity with those doing it tough and to raise money to provide more support. Georges River Life Care does terrific work in my community, in areas like Moorebank, through programs like Cafe Connect. They were able to raise more than $51,000 through this year's event, which will go towards their homelessness support and emergency relief programs.”
“Australians told those opposite at the last election, 'Get your hands off my Medicare card.' Those opposite claim to oppose monoculturalism, but they won't defend the multiculturalism that defines modern Australia when it counts, even if it's eating a meal, a succulent Chinese meal. Tomorrow, from 1 July, underpaid—I'm under what? Underpaid minimum-wage workers will be getting a pay rise—a pay rise not backed by those opposite. Why did they do this? For what reason? Are they waiting to receive another tax cut to vote against? This 1 July the Labor government is delivering higher wages and cost-of-living relief for working Australians while those opposite talk down our country. Tata and farewell!”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker, you just assured me that I could speak. Tomorrow, 1 July, working Australians will get another tax cut. Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest. See those chaps over there? These are the blokes that voted against the tax cuts. When we propose cost-of-living relief for working Australians, they grapple with it and then they vote against it. Ah yes, I see that they know their judo well. When residents of my electorate visit one of the 23 bulk-billing clinics in Hughes, what is the charge? It's free. When they get scripts for their PBS medicines, what is the charge? It's $25, the lowest it has been since 2004. Good one!”
“It's also why we've reduced barriers to seeing a GP after those opposite maintained a decade-long freeze on GP bulk-billing rates. This government is focused on serious reform to help families in my community with the cost of living while the three right-wing parties opposite focus on how to divide modern Australia. After a decade of neglect, our community now has 23 Medicare bulk-billing practices—a majority of clinics across my community—and, after they see a GP, they're saving money on scripts with $13,351,481 on PBS medications saved since 2022 in my community under this government's cheaper medicines policy. We're delivering for communities right across Australia. Their focus is on division across modern Australia.”
“The housing market in Australia has been broken for too long, but this Labor government is taking action. The Albanese government is delivering a fairer tax system for working Australians so that more first home buyers are able to get into a home of their own, and it builds on the work that we've already done. In my electorate of Hughes, in southern Sydney, 965 people have used a five per cent deposit to own their first home. That's almost 1,000 people building a better life for their family and taking ownership stakes in homes from Menai to Macquarie Fields. We know that housing isn't the only cost-of-living pressure that families are facing. It's why we're taking action on energy too. Our Cheaper Home Batteries Program has helped almost 4,000 households in my community reduce their energy bills with a solar battery of their own.”
“In the verbal sparring arena of the New South Wales premier's debating competition, Holsworthy Public School hosted two debates on the theme of education and came out on top, securing the impressive position as the Sydney south-west zone 11 champions and progressing to the regional knockout competition. Congratulations to all involved and thank you so much to all our teachers for all the work that they do to get those amazing achievements from our students.”
“Engadine High School recently came away from the Sutherland zone athletics carnival with some outstanding wins, placing third across the zone and breaking three records in long jump, shot-put and relay. Students from the Jannali High School performed exceptionally well in their regional cross-country, with five students making it through to the state cross-country competition later this month. The New South Wales handball high school championships saw fierce competition from the Open Boys Handball Team at Menai High School, who secured a silver medal for their hard work and determination.”
“Among its esteemed students are my father and aunt, who have been stunned by the quality of learning that we have access to right here in the Sutherland Shire. The college's dedication to lifelong learning, inclusion and community spirit makes every experience special. I want to thank CEO Bernadette Mills and her team for the extraordinary work that they do each day for the southern Sydney community. I'm sure that all the students and staff at the community college would also join me in wishing the Socceroos the best of luck as they take on Paraguay this Friday. Thanks so much to the team at St George & Sutherland Community College for hosting us on this beautiful day of community togetherness. I want to recognise some outstanding achievements from several schools in my community.”
“It was terrific to witness their palpable passion and see the green electric with enthusiasm as students from all cultures, backgrounds and walks of life erupted with big cheers of excitement at pivotal moments in the game—particularly the Colombian students, who came out victorious on the day. It was a vital expression of how the appreciation of cultures can enrich us all. Just like the scarves so proudly worn by these students, the weaving together of various threads of heritage can strengthen our collective spirit and love of country. The St George & Sutherland Community College has been doing amazing work in my community for more than 40 years, providing quality vocational education, disability services, leisure and language classes to students from across the globe.”
“The Socceroos victory over Türkiye in the FIFA World Cup has brought Australians from right across the country together in support of Aussies on the world stage. But it's also been a great opportunity for local communities to unite in their support. Last week, the St George & Sutherland Community College got into the spirit, hosting a barbecue on the green at its Jannali campus, and its community watched the World Cup while wearing a wonderfully diverse array of shirts and scarves representing their home countries. I loved seeing students, clients and staff as well as representatives from Aspect getting involved with foosball and testing their accuracy with the soccer target.”
“We're making sure that super is paid at the same time as wages, closing loopholes that denied workers their entitlements and allowing workers to benefit from more frequent compounding. We have increased the superannuation guarantee to 12 per cent, a milestone for workers decades in the making, boosting retirement savings for millions of Australians. This government is also boosting the low-income superannuation tax offset to raise eligibility from July next year. This will give low-income workers a fairer tax concession on their super contributions and help deliver a more secure retirement for 1.3 million Australians, and we're improving the sustainability of concessional treatment for very large balances. These reforms build on a strong record of action to strengthen and modernise Australia's superannuation system.”
“It was a Labor government that created superannuation, and this Labor government understands its critical importance for individuals and for the broader economy. That's why we've acted to strengthen superannuation, supporting a secure retirement for millions of Australians. The Albanese government is introducing mandatory enforceable service standards for all large APRA regulated superannuation funds. The focus of these standards will be on the areas families rely on during some of the most difficult times in their lives, including timely and compassionate handling of death benefit claims. The government is preparing to release draft legislation for public consultation this year.”
“It has meant that successive Australian governments have spent less on retirement payments than other countries as a share of GDP, while supporting higher quality of life for older Australians. Not only does superannuation provide a dignified retirement for individuals; it also benefits our economy. Over the decades since its introduction, contributions have deepened Australia's pool of investment capital over time, reducing the risk premium faced by Australian companies. It has improved our balance of payments when funds invest overseas, and spending out of income derived from superannuation is a large source of demand, powering around five per cent of GDP. Apart from their home, super is often the largest investment that an individual will make over their lifetime.”
“Superannuation gives older Australians dignity and security in retirement. It's the recognition that Australians who have worked hard should be able to enter later life with a decent standard of living. This is, of course, the goal of all retirement income systems, but our Australian way has unique advantages. Savings mandates and concessional tax treatment are prudent mechanisms to encourage self-responsibility. It is Labor that built modern superannuation in this country. In 1991, Paul Keating introduced the legislation underpinning Australia's world-class superannuation system. Our superannuation system is one of the great success stories of the modern Australian economy.”
“This bill sends a clear message: The risks are rising and the rewards are shrinking. It protects honest retailers competing fairly. It protects workers from intimidation and violence. It protects communities like mine from organised crime. The government's objective is clear: shut down illegal shops, choke off criminal money and make illicit tobacco unprofitable. This bill advances that objective through higher penalties, through stronger proceeds of crime powers and through enhanced investigative capabilities. Together, these measures rebalance the risk-reward equation that fuels the trade in illicit tobacco. I commend this bill to the House.”
“Through the national illicit tobacco and e-cigarette coordination forum, jurisdictions have agreed on priority actions including stronger retailer licensing, long-term closure orders, penalties for non-compliant landlords and increased on-the-ground enforcement. Evidence shows this works. Jurisdictions that apply comprehensive enforcement see significant drops in illegal trade. Others are strengthening closure and landlord laws to permanently shut down illegal operations. This bill arrives at a critical moment. It will not dismantle an entrenched criminal economy overnight—criminal networks adapt—but this legislation equips law enforcement with the tools required to match the scale of the challenge. Every seizure, every restraining order and every dollar confiscated increases pressure on the illicit market.”
“Australia has achieved world-leading success in reducing smoking rates through sustained policy, plain packaging, advertising bans, smoke-free laws and public education. Illicit tobacco undermines every one of these measures. It makes harmful products cheaper, more accessible and unregulated, it strips away health warnings and safety standards, and normalises smoking, particularly among young people and price-sensitive consumers. The government's approach rests on three pillars: stopping illicit tobacco at the border, disrupting supply and sales within the community and strengthening coordination between the Commonwealth, the states and territories. That third pillar is critical. States and territories hold key powers over licensing and premises closures, landlord accountability and local enforcement.”
“This bill realigns those frameworks, giving law enforcement consistent and contemporary tools to trace, restrain and confiscate criminal assets. The legislation also strengthens unexplained wealth provisions, and it improves national consistency. Organised crime does not respect jurisdictional boundaries. These reforms ensure that orders can be pursued and enforced across Australia, rather than fragmented by differing state processes. New non-publication provisions protect the integrity of investigations and ensure proceedings are not undermined. Revenue protection matters. Billions in lost excise revenue undermined funding for hospitals, for schools and for essential services, but the harm of illicit tobacco goes deeper.”
“Following the money has already delivered results. AUSTRAC and the banking sector have shut down hundreds of high-risk accounts, terminated merchant services, removed private ATMs used for cash laundering and significantly increased suspicious transaction reporting. This bill strengthens that ecosystem by ensuring that intelligence flows effectively between enforcement and regulatory agencies such as AUSTRAC, ASIC and APRA. The Proceeds of Crime Act search warrant framework is also modernised. Passed in 2002, it has not kept pace with updates to the Crimes Act 1914. As a result, police have sometimes had fewer powers to proceed investigations than in ordinary criminal investigations, even though financial crime is often more complex.”
“Seizing cigarettes disrupts supply temporarily, but it does not eliminate the incentive. What truly undermines organised crime is removing its wealth. Organised crime groups earn between $4 and $7 billion each year from illicit tobacco. These profits are reinvested into other serious crimes, including drug trafficking, fraud and scams. They corrupt systems, silence witnesses and expand criminal infrastructure. Taking this money strikes at the heart of this enterprise. The bill strengthens and streamlines information-gathering and confiscation under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It enables information obtained during investigations to be shared with other Commonwealth regulators, allowing coordinated action against professional facilitators such as accountants, lawyers and shell entities that support criminal networks.”
“The bill amends the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act to classify serious tobacco offences as 'serious offences'. This allows agencies to seek telecommunications interception warrants, aligning illicit tobacco offences with other serious organised crime activities. These powers already exist elsewhere in the law. This bill recognises that illicit tobacco now warrants the same level of response. These powers are proportionate. We are confronting criminal networks generating billions of dollars using violence and intimidation and undermining decades of public health progress. The damage goes well beyond revenue. It includes firebombings, standover tactics, corruption and the normalisation of criminal behaviour within communities. The second major pillar of the bill focuses on profits. Criminal networks are motivated by money.”
“The bill amends multiple Commonwealth laws to increase penalties for offences involving the importation, possession, production, manufacture, supply and sale of illicit tobacco. Existing penalties were set when this market was smaller and less organised. They have not kept pace with the reality on the ground. Low penalties have meant low risk, allowing the trade to flourish. Higher penalties unlock more powerful investigative tools. Certain surveillance and computer access warrants can only be used where offences meet specific penalty thresholds. By lifting penalties, law enforcement agencies gain access to the tools they need to investigate encrypted communications, layered corporate structures and complex money-laundering arrangements used by organised crime.”
“Such volumes do not exist without deep, organised and well-financed criminal supply chains. Despite these efforts, the illicit tobacco market continues to grow. Border enforcement remains essential, but it is no longer enough on its own. Criminal groups have adapted. They have diversified routes, refined concealment methods and calculated that profits still outweigh the risks. This bill directly targets that calculation. At its core, the legislation addresses two fundamental problems. Firstly, it rebalances the risk-reward equation by increasing penalties and investigative consequences. Second, it strengthens proceeds-of-crime laws so that criminals can no longer enjoy the benefits of their illicit profits.”
“The government is working closely with states and territories to shut down illegal outlets and disrupt the trade wherever it operates. The Albanese Labor government has already committed substantial resources. Since 2023-24, $346 million has been provided to the Australian Border Force to crack down on illicit tobacco and vaping products. Australia's first Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner was appointed, backed by $21.3 million in the 2025-26 budget. Since January 2024, more than 14 million vaping products and accessories have been seized, and, in the last six months of the last year alone, over one billion illicit cigarettes were intercepted. Those figures demonstrate commitment. They also demonstrate the scale and sophistication of the problem.”
“Smoking still kills an average of 66 Australians every single day and accounts for about 20 per cent of our national cancer burden. Two out of every three long-term smokers will die from a tobacco related illness. If we fail to turn the tide on illicit tobacco, we risk a new generation of Australians being drawn into smoking through cheaper, unregulated products. That would be a profound public health failure with enormous long-term costs to our health system. Australians are rightly sick of illegal tobacco shops operating openly in shopping strips and high streets across the country—including, in my community, places like Engadine and Heathcote. These are not victimless crimes. They bring violence, intimidation and criminality into local communities.”
“They operate like multinational businesses, investing capital in what they perceive as a high-profit, low-risk situation. That business model must be disrupted. The Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026 is legislation that represents a necessary and proportionate response. We need to make illicit tobacco less profitable and riskier for those involved, and that's exactly what this bill does. This legislation strengthens Commonwealth laws, significantly increases penalties, targets unexplained wealth and enables enhanced investigatory powers such as telecommunications interception, surveillance devices and other tools required to disrupt modern criminal networks. This fight matters because the consequences are real and tangible.”
“Illicit tobacco has become one of the most pressing organised crime challenges facing Australia, including my community in southern Sydney. The latest official estimates in the ITEC Commissioner's 2024-25 annual report are sobering. Between 50 and 60 per cent of all tobacco products sold in Australia are now illicit. Organised crime groups are earning between $4.1 billion and $6.9 billion in profit from this trade. Almost every vape purchase in Australia is illegal—about 95 per cent of all e-cigarette products sold—with a market value of about $1.6 billion. What used to be seen as a health issue has morphed into a serious and organised crime problem. A massive global surplus of cheap tobacco has been weaponized by serious transnational organised crime groups across the Middle East, South East Asia and the Pacific.”