New regulation for Oz cigar lovers

[El Presidente]

Just in from your favourite nazi's. 

I will publish the full extent of the permits when they are published. However this is being designed for both businesses and individuals. 

The Government is also introducing a prohibited import control for tobacco from 1 July 2019. This measure
will strengthen border controls by prohibiting importation of tobacco without a permit or in contravention of
permit conditions. It will also provide the Australian Border Force with new enforcement options to seize illicit
tobacco and infringe importers of illicit tobacco.
People who wish to import tobacco products will be able to apply to Home Affairs for a permit to import.

So in short, if an Oz consumer, I would be looking at stocking up offshore come April May. 

[Fuzz]

I could say something, but then I'd have to moderate my comments.

[MIKA27]

5 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

I could say something, but then I'd have to moderate my comments.

Go on.... Exceptions allowed. This is f**ked.

[Chucko8]

Bloody criminals. This is not great news

[RijkdeGooier]

55 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

Just in from your favourite nazi's. 

I will publish the full extent of the permits when they are published. However this is being designed for both businesses and individuals. 

The Government is also introducing a prohibited import control for tobacco from 1 July 2019. This measure
will strengthen border controls by prohibiting importation of tobacco without a permit or in contravention of
permit conditions. It will also provide the Australian Border Force with new enforcement options to seize illicit
tobacco and infringe importers of illicit tobacco.
People who wish to import tobacco products will be able to apply to Home Affairs for a permit to import.

So in short, if an Oz consumer, I would be looking at stocking up offshore come April May. 

Just wonderful.

So how far away are you from having tobacco classified as a ‘class A drug’ and all existing stores seized and destroyed?

[rxavier1979]

What’s driving this in Australia? My knowledge of Australian current events is quite poor (aside from what I learned from Bill Bryson).

Is it a health mandate (assuming cigarettes are the real intended target), or more control on tax revenue?

[bayala]

2 minutes ago, rxavier1979 said:

What’s driving this in Australia? My knowledge of Australian current events is quite poor (aside from what I learned from Bill Bryson).

Is it a health mandate (assuming cigarettes are the real intended target), or more control on tax revenue?

Health mandate with cigarettes as the main target. However, they are increasing taxes incrementally so they can profit until everyone quits. 

[MD Puffer]

What a shame.

 

Are you guys mandated to keep yellow safety vests in your cars?

 

[nKostyan]

There is a good joke about the theme: "smokers pay so many taxes that it's time to allow Them to buy and smoke tobacco products absolutely everywhere, except for oil and gasoline storages"

[Head83]

Damn, I would like to extend my sorrows to all my Aussie friends on this latest news.  I get it that tobacco is bad for you.  However, I also feel that there is a distinct difference between cigarettes, cigars, or even pipe tobacco and how its consumed and treated within their respective markets and should be treat as thus.      

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, rxavier1979 said:

What’s driving this in Australia? My knowledge of Australian current events is quite poor (aside from what I learned from Bill Bryson).

Is it a health mandate (assuming cigarettes are the real intended target), or more control on tax revenue?

It started as a health mandate....They increased taxes 16% average for 6 years. 

A packet of cigarettes is $35-$40 in Oz. 

What has occured is that there is a huge black market in illegal tobacco.  it is a massive illegal market and the Govt has been caught on the hop. 

[rxavier1979]

47 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

It started as a health mandate....They increased taxes 16% average for 6 years. 

A packet of cigarettes is $35-$40 in Oz. 

What has occured is that there is a huge black market in illegal tobacco.  it is a massive illegal market and the Govt has been caught on the hop. 

So I’m guessing now they’ll look to increase the taxes further in order to fund the govt overhead in terms of regulating the growing black market too? Kidding aside, good luck to you all in getting by amidst these regulations. 

[MD Puffer]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

It started as a health mandate....They increased taxes 16% average for 6 years. 

A packet of cigarettes is $35-$40 in Oz. 

What has occured is that there is a huge black market in illegal tobacco.  it is a massive illegal market and the Govt has been caught on the hop. 

Lol, I remember when a pack of Marlboro Reds were $1.80.  I worked at a gas station and used to make money on the side by buying all of the "buy two, get one free" deals, I'd break them down, and sell them individually and pocket the sale of the third pack.  No one ever looks for the tiny writing that says, "not meant for individual resale".  Also sold singles (an idea I picked up from a trip to Mexico) but I only made a few bucks from that.  I think I got away with it.  I was told to meet with the Regional supervisor one day but decided to quit instead.  It was either selling smokes on the side, refusing to clean up a bathroom someone had befouled, or maybe getting recorded fooling around with a girlfriend at the time in the managers office, but at least one of those were the reason I was going to get canned.  I think.  Maybe they were going to promote me?

[sharks]

6 hours ago, MIKA27 said:

Go on.... Exceptions allowed. This is f**ked.

This is SO F^%KED. This isn't the lucky country anymore. just F#*KING pathetic :(…. Suxs to be us.

[JC67]

Hi Prez

i haven’t been able to access this site for months due to the ban and my poor knowledge of technology. Anyhow I have finally sorted an alternative VPN and back on today to be greeted by this news.

does that mean that an individual cannot purchase cigars from O/S for personal use?

[Duxnutz]

The verbiage on bonded warehouses is a bit anti-retail. Any legal recourse?!?! 

Edit. Apologies just woke up from my stroke, of course there’s no room for reasonable thought with Aussie govt when it comes to tobacco. 

[Sir Sooty]

3 minutes ago, JC67 said:

does that mean that an individual cannot purchase cigars from O/S for personal use?

No, buying cigars from overseas will still be legal but only if you have a permit, by the sounds of it.

The general policy is here

https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/BudgetReview201819/Tobacco

Changes to warehousing rules will also affect FoH’s business operations with more red tape I suspect. Not enough to kill 24:24 but enough to be a royal pain in the ass

Question is how long will the Aussie cigar smoker becomes extinct, with the annual Sept hikes and more of these regulations popping up. Soo enough we’ll have a topsy turvey world where marijuana is legal and tobacco illegal...

[Duxnutz]

2 minutes ago, Sir Sooty said:

 

Question is how long will the Aussie cigar smoker becomes extinct, with the annual Sept hikes and more of these regulations popping up. Soo enough we’ll have a topsy turvey world where marijuana is legal and tobacco illegal...

Before I moved o.s. I amassed a good 10 yr supply just for this sort of eventual ‘prohibition era’ movement from the govt. Crazy that this is what you’ve gotta do to enjoy a hobby. 

Australia is such a great place, such a shame the government make it so very difficult a place to live. 

 

[El Presidente]

9 hours ago, Sir Sooty said:

Changes to warehousing rules will also affect FoH’s business operations with more red tape I suspect. Not enough to kill 24:24 but enough to be a royal pain in the ass

We are lucky in that it will only affect us in a minor way. 

Still, the Govt is our major competitor and source of continued inspiration.  They keep us sharp and ever evolving. 

[wineguy]

13 hours ago, El Presidente said:

It started as a health mandate....They increased taxes 16% average for 6 years. 

A packet of cigarettes is $35-$40 in Oz. 

What has occured is that there is a huge black market in illegal tobacco.  it is a massive illegal market and the Govt has been caught on the hop. 

https://www.economist.com/international/2018/07/26/sin-taxes-eg-on-tobacco-are-less-efficient-than-they-look

[IanMcLean68]

One thing for certain is that our nanny state government is becoming a huge international embarrassment for Australians. Just look at the incredulous responses of our international members on the forum here. It's well beyond a joke.

 

[Freddo]

WOW.... 

[TBird55]

Is there any chance of the Aussie people changing the government and repealing these draconian laws?

[MountainMilG]

16 hours ago, MD Puffer said:

Lol, I remember when a pack of Marlboro Reds were $1.80.  I worked at a gas station and used to make money on the side by buying all of the "buy two, get one free" deals, I'd break them down, and sell them individually and pocket the sale of the third pack.  No one ever looks for the tiny writing that says, "not meant for individual resale".  Also sold singles (an idea I picked up from a trip to Mexico) but I only made a few bucks from that.  I think I got away with it.  I was told to meet with the Regional supervisor one day but decided to quit instead.  It was either selling smokes on the side, refusing to clean up a bathroom someone had befouled, or maybe getting recorded fooling around with a girlfriend at the time in the managers office, but at least one of those were the reason I was going to get canned.  I think.  Maybe they were going to promote me?

I remember when I started smoking I could get a carton of reds from the PX for under $20.  My father smoked camel non filter since he was in the Navy, I forget what ridiculous price he paid back then. I quit when packs went to $3 in NH ... then started again when they were around $5ish.  I showed them lol.

Out of curiosity, are the alcohol taxes prohibitive in Aus as well?  I really want to visit, but in addition to all the things that can kill me down under, now I worry I'll need to dip into retirement savings to afford anything on my trip

[Corylax18]

18 hours ago, El Presidente said:

A packet of cigarettes is $35-$40 in Oz. 

Thats insane. Still .20 -.50 cents a pack in Cuba.....