Read articles from Oceania

June 22, 2026 by wrdnews.org

Australia’s tobacco black market shows what happens when policy abandons harm reduction. High cigarette taxes, strict vaping rules and limited legal access to safer nicotine products have helped create space for illicit trade to grow. When smokers are priced out or blocked from lower-risk alternatives, demand does not disappear — it moves into unregulated markets. Better policy should reduce smoking-related harm without handing supply to criminals.

June 16, 2026 by thefirebreak.org

Palau’s push to place nicotine under international drug-control rules raises serious questions about influence, governance and proportionality. Treating all nicotine products like illicit drugs risks ignoring the major difference between combustible cigarettes and lower-risk alternatives such as vapes and pouches. For smokers, prohibition does not remove demand — it removes legal, regulated options. Global nicotine policy should be built on evidence and relative risk, not on campaigns that turn harm reduction into a drug war.

June 12, 2026 by clearingtheair.eu

A proposal to place nicotine under international drug-control rules would treat vaping and nicotine pouches more like illicit substances than harm-reduction tools. Critics warn that such an approach could drive legal products out of regulated markets, strengthen illicit trade and make cigarettes comparatively easier to access. Nicotine policy should distinguish between dependence and the far greater harms caused by combustion. Extending prohibition models to safer products risks repeating failures already seen elsewhere.

June 09, 2026 by abc.net.au

South Australia’s crackdown on illicit tobacco is highlighting the scale and resilience of the illegal cigarette market. Reports of rising black-market prices suggest enforcement may be disrupting supply, but also show how strong consumer demand continues to sustain organised illegal trade. The situation raises wider questions about whether high tobacco taxes, restrictive nicotine policy and limited access to lower-risk alternatives are creating conditions in which illicit markets can thrive. Effective public health policy must reduce smoking-related harm while avoiding approaches that push consumers further into unregulated supply chains.

June 08, 2026 by substack.com

Evidence on smoking, vaping and nicotine use does not always fit neatly into dominant public health narratives. When data challenge assumptions, the response should be careful analysis rather than selective interpretation. In tobacco policy, inconvenient evidence is too often dismissed when it supports harm reduction. Better regulation depends on confronting real-world outcomes, not only reinforcing established positions.

June 08, 2026 by thepost.co.nz

New Zealand’s growing illicit tobacco trade is raising concerns about the unintended consequences of restrictive tobacco and nicotine policy. Reports of expanding illegal cigarette sales highlight how high prices, consumer demand and enforcement gaps can create opportunities for organised criminal networks. Harm reduction advocates argue that policies focused primarily on limiting legal access may fail if smokers are left with fewer affordable or acceptable alternatives to combustible tobacco. The debate reinforces the need for regulation that reduces smoking-related harm while avoiding the growth of illicit markets and maintaining realistic pathways away from cigarettes.

June 05, 2026 by skynews.com.au

Australia's severe tobacco black market problem is termed a "total failure of policy" after Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed a 40% increase in national nicotine consumption from 2017 to 2025, with illicit products making up 80% of tobacco use. This far surpasses similar data from European nations, Canada, and New Zealand. Former police detective Rohan Pike criticized public health advocates, stating that Australia's anti-tobacco policies are flawed and ineffective, and suggested a fresh approach. KPMG reports show varying rates of illegal tobacco consumption in European markets, Canada, and Latin America, emphasizing the prevalence of contraband products globally. FTI Consulting noted a significant 27.2% of illicit tobacco consumption in New Zealand in 2024.

June 04, 2026 by straitstimes.com

Victoria, Australia, is increasing efforts to combat illegal tobacco sales due to a surge in nicotine use. A$1.50 federal tax per cigarette aims to deter smoking, resulting in high prices spurring illegal tobacco sales. Proposed laws would empower authorities to close down offending businesses, with penalties of up to A$2.4 million and 20 years of jail. The rise in nicotine consumption, up by 40% from 2017 to 2025, is linked to illegal products and e-cigarettes. Approximately 80% of nicotine products consumed in 2025 were from the black market. Prices of legal tobacco have tripled due to yearly excise hikes, while illegal tobacco prices remain stable per ABS data.

June 04, 2026 by reuters.com

The Australian state of Victoria on Thursday introduced laws to give authorities more powers to shut down businesses selling illegal tobacco, ​as new data showed nicotine use has surged across the ‌country. Australia charges a federal tax of about A$1.50 ($1.07) on each individual cigarette to discourage smoking. As a result, a pack of cigarettes can cost more than A$60, ​with high prices blamed in part for fuelling a rise in illegal ​tobacco products.

June 03, 2026 by straitstimes.com

Rising illegal tobacco trade in Australia has led to a 40% increase in nicotine consumption, despite strict anti-smoking policies. Experts suggest that high prices for legal cigarettes have fueled the black market, where prices are significantly lower. Illicit cigarettes, accounting for up to 80% of consumption in 2025, are imported by criminal groups to avoid heavy taxes. Australia, known for its anti-smoking measures, has seen a significant growth in illegal tobacco consumption, challenging efforts to reduce smoking rates. The price difference between legal and illegal tobacco products has made the latter more accessible and affordable, contributing to increased consumption levels according to a study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.