How Victoria's tobacco licensing scheme will work
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Victorian tobacco licensing scheme will have just 14 officers to patrol the entire state of Victoria, which is the equivalent size of Great Britain.
Jacinta Allan's government will on Wednesday release new details about the state's licensing scheme, declaring it will deliver 'boots on the ground' enforcement from February 2026.
The 14 officers to be rolled out in Victoria is the same number doing the job in Tasmania.
Inspectors also won't be able to close down a shop caught selling illicit tobacco.
Under the new model tobacco businesses will need a license to sell cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products.
The initial fee for a 17-month licence will be $1,176 — to save businesses applying twice in the same year — and then $830 per year there after, which has been welcomed by industry groups.
A media release, seen by the Herald Sun, states Victoria Police's 'search powers will be beefed up to make it easier and quicker to raid,' but gives no context as to what this means.
Under the licensing scheme, any person found to be selling illicit tobacco could face fines of up to $355,000 or up to 15 years in prison.
Businesses could face fines up to $1.7m.
Victoria Police has arrested more than 130 offenders and seized more than $37m in cash, vapes and illegal tobacco products.
'Backed by more than $46 million in the Victorian Budget 2025-26 – 14 licensing inspectors from the new regulator Tobacco Licensing Victoria will hit the streets to hold illegal operators to account,' Police Minister Anthony Carbines said in the press release.
'This will back the work of Victoria Police who are coming after crime lords. If you are doing the wrong thing and dealing in illegal tobacco, you will get caught and you will face the toughest penalties in Australia.'
Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Enver Erdogan, added: 'Our scheme has the toughest penalties in the country – to disrupt organised crime and support Victoria Police with intelligence gathering.' State Labor governments slam feds over 'intolerable' tobacco tax
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