New legislation could see health warnings on individual cigarettes and graphic images on cigarette packets. 

Health Minister Mark Butler released planned legislation last week, saying there is a strong need to address the marketing strategies employed by the tobacco industry to circumvent existing laws. 

The proposed changes aim to counteract the desensitisation of consumers to current health warnings and graphic images, which research has shown have become too familiar.

The legislation, which is open for public consultation until July, seeks to standardise the size and design of tobacco packets and products, introduce health warnings on each cigarette, and prohibit flavours and additives such as menthol. 

Furthermore, certain misleading names on packets will be limited or banned. 

Minister Butler highlighted the importance of stopping the use of appealing names and misleading packaging that encourages people to take up smoking. 

If passed, these measures will come into effect from July 2025 after a transition period of 15 months.

The proposed legislation aligns with the National Tobacco Strategy, which aims to reduce daily smoking prevalence to below 10 per cent by 2025 and to 5 per cent or less by 2030. 

Minister Butler noted that smoking rates in Australia have stagnated at around 12 per cent and emphasised the urgency of new legislation, particularly with smoking rates among young people on the rise.

The government plans to introduce the legislation to parliament later this year and aims for its passage before April 2024. Failure to pass replacement legislation would result in the expiration of existing regulations around plain packaging and graphic warnings. 

The government is committed to meeting the targets set out in the national tobacco strategy, highlighting the collective agreement among all governments.

Public feedback on the legislation is welcome until July 14, 2023.