CANBERRA — Representatives from tobacco company Philip Morris appeared before an Australian Senate committee considering the illegal tobacco trade in a closed session in Canberra on Monday. Labor, the Greens, and the Australian Council on Smoking and Health raised concerns that executives from cigarette manufacturers were allowed to give evidence behind closed doors.

The committee, chaired by South Australian Liberal senator Leah Blyth, published a full program for Monday's hearings but did not list evidence from Philip Morris or any other in-camera session. The committee also heard from Australian Border Force during the day.

Greens senator Jordon Steele-John confirmed that the private hearing had taken place and promised to release a transcript of the evidence. "We have just taken evidence in camera from Philip Morris. I shared with them during our exchanges my opposition to their presence in this inquiry as witnesses." Steele-John said in a public session.

Laura Hunter, chief executive of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health, addressed the committee about the participation of tobacco industry figures. "I am concerned that individuals or organisations with links to the tobacco industry have been invited to participate in this inquiry." she said. "We recognise the committee may wish to hear from a range of stakeholders."

"But the tobacco industry is not a neutral stakeholder. It is a commercial actor whose profits depend on the continued sale of a product that kills Australians every day and whose interests are directly affected by the outcomes of this inquiry." Hunter said.

Assistant minister for customs Julian Hill called on Coalition senators to explain the closed hearing. "Australians should be shocked and outraged that today the committee chose to get secret evidence from big tobacco." Hill said. "They're quick to give comment when it suits them, and yet they want to skulk in in secret to a parliamentary inquiry when not." he added.

The health minister had written to Blyth and Senate president Sue Lines on Friday last week, reminding the committee of Australia's obligations under a World Health Organization agreement on tobacco control. That agreement requires public officials to protect health policy from interference from the tobacco industry and associated interests. Article 5.3 of the framework convention is designed to stop interference in public health policy from cigarette and e-cigarette manufacturers.

Health Department guidance suggests Australian public officials, including members of parliament, should only interact with executives and lobbyists from tobacco manufacturers when and to the extent strictly necessary to effectively regulate smoking, and that such interactions should be conducted transparently. It had been 16 years since big tobacco had a platform in federal parliament.