A coalition of 15 organisations, including the Cancer Council, Heart Foundation, Quit, and Public Health Association of Australia, is calling for strict transparency and protections against industry interference ahead of a Senate committee hearing into the booming illicit tobacco trade on Monday.
It comes after tobacco giant Philip Morris used a secret hearing with the committee to lobby for cheaper legal cigarettes, claiming the crisis would lessen if the government dropped taxes.
Despite criticism, the Liberal-controlled committee allowed company executives to give evidence behind closed-doors, citing the need to hear from all impacted entities.
The Illicit Tobacco & E-cigarette Commissioner estimates the illicit market makes up 50-60 per cent of all tobacco sales, worth up to $7 billion.
Given four million Australians consume nicotine, Philip Morris argued it was better for public health, community safety and the government's budget if they did so legally.
That elicited an outcry from health bodies who warned tobacco manufacturers were "exploiting concerns about the illicit market as an excuse to undo 25 years of successful tobacco control policies".
In an open letter, the group also called for proven policies, including taxes, advertising restrictions and education campaigns, to be maintained and stronger enforcement action and more help for people to quit.
Cancer Council chief executive Jacinta Reddan urged Australians and policy makers to be vigilant and not allow tobacco groups to weaken health measures.
"Calls for cuts to the tobacco excise are not about helping communities, they are part of a coordinated effort by the tobacco industry to protect profits at the expense of public health," she said.
The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, set to front the hearing on Monday, revealed in its submission only 107 people had spent time in jail following illicit tobacco prosecutions between mid-2018 to the end of 2025.
Federal prosecutors handled 405 cases, leading to 284 convictions, over the seven years.
