Table 1

Timeline of adoption and implementation of tobacco plain packaging legislation in Australia

2008
 9 AprilHealth Minister Nicola Roxon announces establishment of the National Preventative Health Taskforce
 10 OctoberRelease of the draft report of the National Preventative Health Taskforce recommending tobacco plain packaging
 17–22 NovemberParties to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control adopt guidelines on advertising and package labelling that recommend the use of plain packaging
2009
 30 JuneNational Preventative Health Taskforce final report to Australian Government for consideration
 1 SeptemberHealth Minister releases final report
2010
 29 AprilPrime Minister Kevin Rudd announces Australia will adopt tobacco plain packaging
 11 MayRelease of Australian Government's formal response to recommendations
 21 AugustAustralian general election
2011
 7 AprilRelease of exposure draft of legislation for consultation Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill 2011
 6 JulyTrade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011 and Tobacco Plain Packaging Bill introduced and read in House of Representatives. House refers Bills to Standing Committee on Health and Ageing
 4 AugustHearings of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing
 18 AugustSenate refers Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Bill 2011 to Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee which calls for submissions (by 2 September)
 22 AugustHouse of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Aged Care tables the report on its Inquiry into Tobacco Plain Packaging
 13 SeptemberHearings of the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
 17 SeptemberRelease of consultation paper on new graphic health warnings for tobacco products
 19 SeptemberLegal and Constitutional Affairs Committee provides report to Senate
 26 OctoberRelease of Proposed mandatory standard for tobacco labelling (graphic health warnings): second round consultation paper
 2 NovemberHealth Minister, announces that the implementation of tobacco plain packaging will be delayed until 1 December, 2012 as a result of delays in the Senate review of the bill
 14 NovemberRelease of Proposed mandatory standard for tobacco labelling (graphic health warnings): draft regulation for comment
 21 NovemberFinal passage of amended Bill through House of Representatives
 1 DecemberBill received royal assent and became law—Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011
 1 DecemberBritish American Tobacco initiates proceedings in Australia’s High Court to test the validity of the law as it relates to property rights of two brands, Winfield and Dunhill. Press release
 6 DecemberImperial Tobacco similarly initiates proceedings
 15 DecemberJapan Tobacco files a Writ of Summons against the Australian Government alleging that the plain packaging law infringes its trademark rights
 20 DecemberPhilip Morris Australia files a Writ of Summons in the High Court against the Australian Government alleging that the plain packaging law infringes its trademark and property rights
 22 DecemberRelease of new Information Standard specifying enlarged graphic health warnings for tobacco products Competition and Consumer (Tobacco) Information Standard 2011 to start phase in from 1 January 2012
2012
 17–19 AprilHigh Court case hearing of Full Court opens in Canberra
 27 JuneIntroduction of Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Bill 2012
 15 AugustHigh Court of Australia announces tobacco industry's case against Australian Government has failed and awards costs to the government. Judgement to be released at later date. Further information
 1 OctoberAll packs manufactured to be plainly packaged
 6 NovemberAssent of Customs Amendment (Smuggled Tobacco) Act 2012
 1 DecemberAll packs sold to be in plain packaging with prescribed enlarged health warning. Only the first set of graphic health warnings are to be displayed on retail packaging of cigarettes and most other smoked tobacco products (excluding cigars and bidis). Cigars and bidis are required to display different product specific warnings
2013
 1 FebruaryAutomatic (biannual since 1985) indexation of tobacco excise/customs duty in line with increase in Consumer Price Index June 2012 to December 2013
 1 AugustAutomatic (biannual since 1985) indexation of tobacco excise/customs duty, in line with increase in Consumer Price Index December 2012 to June 2013 andGraphic health warnings from the second set of warnings start to be displayed on relevant packaging; packs with warnings from the first set of warnings may continue to be manufactured until the end of November 2013
 1 December12.5% increase in excise/customs duty. Only packs bearing one of the second set of graphic health warnings may be manufactured from this date
2014
 1 MarchFirst of automatic indexation increases in excise and customs duty in line with changes in Average Weekly Earnings