Health groups blast Philip Morris' secret appearance at tobacco inquiry

The federal health minister and health groups are raising concerns about a secret appearance of cigarette giant Philip Morris at a parliamentary inquiry examining black market tobacco.

The inquiry, chaired by Liberal senator Leah Blyth, took a break yesterday afternoon with no explanation as to why.

After 15 minutes, the broadcast began again, with Greens senator Jordon Steele-John explaining Philip Morris representatives had just given evidence in private.

Philip Morris was not listed on yesterday's schedule of witnesses.

The ABC has confirmed two representatives appeared in person.

Health Minister Mark Butler said he was seeking more information about what had occurred.

The ABC has been told by multiple sources the names of the Philip Morris witnesses were redacted due to safety concerns.

The illegal tobacco market is a growing problem for federal and state governments, as well as law enforcement agencies.

It has fuelled violence between crime cartels, with businesses being firebombed and a string of violent robberies.

Organised crime groups earned between $4.1 billion and $6.9 billion in profit from the illicit tobacco trade in 2024-25

More than half of all the tobacco products now sold in Australia are illegal, according to a report by the Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Commissioner.

The parliament's inquiry into the illegal tobacco crisis is looking at what more can be done to address the problem.

Health groups blast secrecy

Transcripts of the secret hearing will eventually be released, but Senator Blyth told the inquiry the names of the individual witnesses from Philip Morris would be redacted before then.

After wrapping up his own testimony in a session directly following the Philip Morris hearing, Lung Foundation Australia chief executive Mark Brooke raised concerns about the double standard.

"We put our names and faces out in front of organised crime gangs. How is that fair and reasonable?" Mr Brooke asked, before he was interrupted.

"Sorry, this is not a debating point, thank you for appearing," Senator Blyth cut in.

The ABC has asked Senator Blyth's office and the Committee Secretariat, which provides administrative support to the committee running the inquiry, why Philip Morris was not on the witness list and why the decision was made to keep their identities secret.

Speaking outside the inquiry, Mr Brooke told the ABC he was appalled by the decision.

"Sixty-six Australians die every day from tobacco," he said.

"They and their families deserve significantly better than to have faceless executives … be invited by this inquiry … to give evidence in secret.

Australian Council on Smoking & Health chief executive Laura Hunter said a secret hearing was not acceptable.

"This is an industry that profits off addiction and disease and death. They should not be given any special privileges in this house," she said.

Cancer Council Australia chief executive Jacinta Reddan said politicians had a role to ensure accountability during inquiries.

"The lack of transparency just demonstrates the tobacco industry has not changed over the decades," she said.

"It is really concerning, and it would be concerning to all Australians that today for the first time in 16 years, big tobacco was given a platform behind closed doors," she said of the Commonwealth hearing.

Philip Morris privacy request

The tobacco company was given similar treatment in February during a New South Wales inquiry into illegal tobacco, and in Victoria in 2024.

In Victoria, the reason given was "for safety" at the request of Philip Morris.

Transcripts from the NSW inquiry show Philip Morris representatives spoke about returning "nicotine markets back into the hands of regulators, not criminals", and lamented the high tobacco excise.

"We have to think about what are the market's long-term objectives around excise reform," Philip Morris's Witness B told the NSW inquiry.

"One of the really important objectives of it is to actually arrest the pace of consumer migration to the illicit market … and then actually increase participation in the legal tobacco market once again."

Witness B told the inquiry "an excise correction" would stem the flow of smokers opting for black-market tobacco, and "recover" legal consumption.

The health minister said he had told parliamentarians in recent days about the rules surrounding interacting with tobacco companies.

"I have reminded my parliamentary colleagues … about the obligations they have as public officials under the international conventions around tobacco control," Mr Butler said.

"That obligation includes not engaging with officials and employees of big tobacco.

"Although I have still got to get the full details, I am a little concerned about these reports I have heard."

Advice from the Department of Health states interactions with the tobacco industry "should be limited to what is necessary for public officials or agencies to enact effective tobacco control measures".

Philip Morris has been contacted for comment.