Tobacco reforms

Victorian Tobacco Control Strategy 2008-2013

On 22 December 2008 the Minister for Health announced the release of the Victorian Tobacco Control Strategy 2008-2013.

This Strategy outlines the Government’s five year plan for tobacco control in Victoria and renews its commitment to reducing the toll of tobacco in this State.

With a series of legislative reforms and programs, this Strategy aims to:
• reduce smoking among adults by 20 per cent;
• reduce smoking among pregnant women by 50 per cent;
• reduce smoking among Aboriginal and other high prevalence groups by at least 20 per cent.

Breaking News

As a major first step in implementing the strategy, in August 2009, the Victorian Parliament passed amendments to the Tobacco Act 1987 including:

• smoking bans in a motor vehicle if a person under the age of 18 years is present
• a ban on the sale of tobacco products from temporary outlets
• a power for the Minister for Health to ban the sale of certain tobacco products and packaging that appeal to young people
• a ban on the display of tobacco products at point-of-sale with an exemption for certified 'specialist tobacconists'
• amendments to penalties and enforcement provisions including:
  • amending the definition of 'occupier'
  • power for the Secretary of the Department of Health (formerly Department of Human Services) to request the names and addresses of persons supplied with tobacco in an electronic format
  • increases to the maximum infringement penalties for a number of offences, and specific provisions for higher ‘body corporate’ offences.

These laws, with the exception of the point-of-sale tobacco display ban, commence on 1 January 2010. The point-of-sale display law commences on 1 January 2011.

You can download a copy of the Tobacco Amendment (Protection of Children) Act 2009 from the Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents website.

Further information on the legislative changes will be loaded as it becomes available.

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