Combatting Illicit Tobacco Bill 2026

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
• enable the postal or electronic service of documents
• Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and 3 other Acts to establish a search warrant framework.

Summary from the official bill homepage.