
Australia has implemented various measures to reduce smoking rates and discourage tobacco consumption. As of 2016, no tobacco products are manufactured in Australia, with all tobacco products being imported from overseas. Previously, British American Tobacco, the company behind the Winfield cigarette brand, had stopped manufacturing tobacco products in Australia in 2015. The decline in tobacco manufacturing in Australia can be attributed to factors such as increased export difficulties due to fire safety regulations and a gradual decrease in domestic demand. Additionally, the Australian government has introduced legislation such as the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992, which banned tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1977, which aims to prevent underage individuals from accessing tobacco products. These measures, along with high taxation on tobacco products, have contributed to a decline in daily tobacco smoking rates in Australia since 1991.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are any cigarettes made in Australia? | As of 2016, no tobacco products are manufactured in Australia. |
| Brands of cigarettes previously made in Australia | Winfield, owned by British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) |
| Year Winfield stopped manufacturing in Australia | 2015 |
| Year Philip Morris closed its Australian cigarette factory | 2014 |
| Reason for Philip Morris factory closure | Declining domestic demand and difficulty increasing exports due to Australian government regulations |
| Australian government regulation impacting exports | Introduction of fire safety requirements for Australian-made cigarettes in 2010 |
| Australian legislation to reduce tobacco access to minors | Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1977 in South Australia, Tobacco Act 1987 in Victoria |
| Australian legislation banning tobacco advertising and sponsorship | Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 |
| Year daily tobacco smoking began declining in Australia | 1991 |
| Percentage of daily tobacco smokers in Australia in 1991 | 24.3% |
| Percentage of daily tobacco smokers in Australia in 1995 | 23.8% |
| Percentage of daily tobacco smokers in Australia in 2001 | 22.4% |
| Percentage of Australian smokers using unbranded loose tobacco ("chop-chop") in 2023 | 9% |
| Most common international brands of illicit tobacco in Australia in 2023 | Manchester (4.6%), Double Happiness (3.3%) |
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What You'll Learn

Cigarette manufacturing in Australia ceased in 2015
The decline in cigarette manufacturing in Australia can be attributed to a combination of factors. One significant factor was the gradual decline in domestic demand for cigarettes. As early as 1991, the smoking population in Australia began to decrease, and this trend continued over the years. The introduction of fire safety requirements for Australian-made cigarettes in 2010 also played a role, as it made it difficult for companies to export their products, leading to underutilized factories.
The cessation of cigarette manufacturing in Australia has had several impacts on the industry and the market. Firstly, it has resulted in the importation of all tobacco products from overseas. While the total revenue of the Australian tobacco product wholesaling market remained significant at $2.7 billion AUD in 2017-2018, BAT comprised a substantial portion of this market, accounting for $1.79 billion AUD. This indicates that international tobacco companies continue to supply the Australian market, filling the gap left by the absence of local manufacturing.
The absence of local cigarette manufacturing has also led to an increase in the illicit tobacco trade in Australia. According to estimates, the most common international brand of manufactured illicit tobacco in Australia in 2023 was Manchester, followed by Double Happiness. The increase in illicit tobacco has led to violent disputes between criminal gangs involved in the trade, with the Melbourne tobacco wars gaining particular notoriety.
Additionally, the high taxation on tobacco products in Australia, intended to reduce smoking rates, has made illegal and untaxed "chop-chop" tobacco more attractive to price-conscious consumers. This has further contributed to the decline in the demand for factory-made cigarettes and impacted the tobacco industry in Australia. Overall, the cessation of cigarette manufacturing in Australia in 2015 marked a significant shift in the industry, with international suppliers filling the market gap and illicit tobacco trade and alternative smoking methods gaining traction among consumers.
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Winfield is an Australian cigarette brand
In Australia, Winfield cigarettes are sold in packs of 20, 25, and 30, with the standard pack size being 25. The brand has been associated with sports sponsorship in Australia, particularly in the 1980s and early 1990s. Winfield sponsored the New South Wales Rugby League premiership from 1982 until the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1992 banned tobacco advertising and sponsorship starting from December 1995. Despite the ban, Winfield was seen at the Australian Grand Prix in 1998 and 1999 as the title sponsor of the Williams F1 Team.
Winfield cigarettes have also been the subject of independent tests due to the presence of fake cigarettes in the Australian market. In 2011, it was reported that counterfeit Winfield Blues cigarettes, made in Asia and smuggled into Australia, were sold on the black market. However, tests conducted by Sharp and Howells, a chemist firm, showed that the real and fake cigarettes had similar weights and smoke yields, discrediting claims that fake cigarettes were significantly more dangerous.
Winfield cigarettes have contributed significantly to the Australian tobacco market. In 2004, British American Tobacco Australia shipped 853 billion Winfield cigarettes, making it the largest brand in Australia at the time. However, as of 2015, British American Tobacco stopped manufacturing tobacco products in Australia, and no tobacco products have been manufactured in the country since 2016.
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Tobacco advertising and sponsorship were banned in Australia in 1995
Australia has a long history of tobacco production and consumption, with brands like Winfield cigarettes being manufactured and primarily sold in the country. However, as early as 1976, Australia implemented a ban on tobacco advertising on television. This was followed by the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act of 1992, which banned all tobacco advertising and sponsorship starting from December 1995. The Act prohibited most forms of tobacco advertising, including the sponsorship of sporting events, with existing sponsorships allowed to run their course.
Winfield, a major Australian cigarette brand, was significantly impacted by this legislation. Before the ban, Winfield was a prominent sponsor of sports in Australia, particularly rugby league and cricket, investing $20 million and $14 million respectively in these sports annually. With the new legislation in place, they had to discontinue their sponsorships and find alternative marketing strategies.
The Australian government's efforts to curb tobacco use extended beyond advertising bans. They also supported anti-smoking campaigns and health promotion initiatives. For example, the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) was established in 1988, a year after the Victorian Tobacco Act prohibited certain types of cigarette advertising. VicHealth launched quit-smoking campaigns and introduced sports sponsorship to replace tobacco company sponsorships. Other states followed suit with their health promotion grant programs.
By 1998, all domestic sponsorships by tobacco companies had expired. However, the Minister for Health and Ageing retained discretionary power to grant exemptions to the general ban for sporting events of international significance. This discretionary power was removed in 2000, and events like the Ladies Masters Golf, Indy 300, Rally Australia, and the Formula One Grand Prix had to phase out tobacco sponsorships.
In recent years, the domestic demand for cigarettes in Australia has gradually declined, leading to the closure of factories. As of 2016, no tobacco products are manufactured in Australia. This decline in demand can be attributed to the successful implementation of various tobacco control measures, including advertising and sponsorship bans, health promotion campaigns, and public education on the detrimental health effects of smoking.
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Australia's tobacco industry declined in the 1990s
Australia's tobacco industry has been in decline since the 1990s due to a combination of factors, including changing consumer preferences, increasing health consciousness, and government regulations.
In the early 1960s, a large proportion of Australians consumed tobacco, with almost two-thirds of males and over one-third of females smoking cigarettes. However, by the 1990s, tobacco usage rates had declined significantly, and only one-twentieth of Australian physicians reported themselves as current smokers. This decline in tobacco usage can be attributed to a growing awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco and the success of public health campaigns.
The Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act of 1992 played a significant role in the decline of the tobacco industry in Australia. This legislation banned all tobacco advertising and sponsorship, making it more difficult for tobacco companies to promote their products. Additionally, the introduction of explicit health warnings on cigarette packets and large-scale anti-smoking campaigns further contributed to the decline in tobacco consumption.
The decline in menthol cigarette smoking in Australia during the 1980s and 1990s also impacted the industry. Menthol cigarettes were once popular among female smokers of all age groups, but their popularity decreased markedly in the 1990s, particularly among younger smokers. The increasing marketing restrictions and the rise of "mild/ultra-mild" brands, which offered a less harsh and irritating smoking experience, likely contributed to this decline.
The gradual decline in domestic demand for cigarettes in Australia led to the closure of factories. For example, Philip Morris, a major tobacco company, closed its factory in Australia in 2014 due to underutilization, as it was unable to increase exports due to government regulations and changing consumer preferences.
By 2016, no tobacco products were manufactured in Australia, and the total revenue of the Australian tobacco product wholesaling market had decreased significantly from its peak in the previous decades. This decline in Australia's tobacco industry can be attributed to a combination of effective public health measures, changing social norms, and stricter government regulations.
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The Australian tobacco market was worth $2.7 billion AUD in 2017-18
Australia's tobacco market was worth $2.7 billion AUD in 2017-18, with British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) making up a significant portion of this, at $1.79 billion AUD. BATA is a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, a multinational company that owns the Australian cigarette brand Winfield.
Factory-made cigarettes made up 87.7% of the wholesale tobacco market in Australia during this period, with roll-your-own tobacco accounting for 11.0%. The remaining 1.3% was made up of other tobacco products, including cigars, cigarillos, and pipe tobacco.
The tobacco market in Australia has been subject to tightening regulations, including higher taxation and health awareness campaigns, which have contributed to a decline in smoking rates and volume consumption. As a result, the domestic demand for cigarettes has gradually declined, and companies have faced difficulties in increasing exports.
Despite the overall decline in the tobacco market, the sector has experienced growth due to the introduction of novel, risk-reduced products, such as vaping devices and e-cigarettes. The market is expected to continue evolving, with online sales projected to contribute 4.5% of the total revenue in the tobacco market by 2025.
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Frequently asked questions
No tobacco products are manufactured in Australia as of 2016.
Yes, cigarettes were manufactured in Australia in the past. For example, Winfield cigarettes were manufactured and imported by British American Tobacco Australia (BATA), a subsidiary of British American Tobacco. However, British American Tobacco stopped manufacturing cigarettes in 2015.
The decline of the tobacco industry in Australia has been attributed to various factors, including the introduction of fire safety requirements for Australian-made cigarettes in 2010, which made it challenging for manufacturers to export their products. Additionally, the high taxation on tobacco products has made illegal alternatives like 'chop-chop' more attractive to price-conscious consumers.
Winfield is an Australian brand of cigarettes, owned by the multinational company British American Tobacco.
The total revenue of the Australian tobacco product wholesaling market was $2.7 billion AUD in 2017-18, with factory-made cigarettes comprising 87.7% of the wholesale tobacco market. However, daily tobacco smoking in Australia has been on a decline since 1991.











































