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Philip Morris uses secret Senate hearing to warn that illegal tobacco in Australia could wipe out legal trade by 2030 Tom McIlroy and Nino Bucci
Exclusive: Company pushes for lower excise and claims threats warrant secrecy, while critics say it has ‘no interest in public health or safety’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe tobacco giant Philip Morris told a secret Senate hearing that soaring trade in illegal cigarettes would wipe out legal products in Australia as soon as 2030, claiming executives’ identities should be kept secret because of threats from org
5 May 2026 at 15:00

Philip Morris uses secret Senate hearing to warn that illegal tobacco in Australia could wipe out legal trade by 2030

5 May 2026 at 15:00

Exclusive: Company pushes for lower excise and claims threats warrant secrecy, while critics say it has ‘no interest in public health or safety’

The tobacco giant Philip Morris told a secret Senate hearing that soaring trade in illegal cigarettes would wipe out legal products in Australia as soon as 2030, claiming executives’ identities should be kept secret because of threats from organised crime.

Labor criticised Coalition MPs for allowing the company to give evidence to an inquiry on illegal tobacco in a closed-door session in Canberra on Monday, ending more than 15 years of precedent under a World Health Organization (WHO) agreement.