❓ Mr Hort questions the Minister for Police on illegal tobacco sales and the introduction of tougher laws, while the Minister deflects responsibility to the Tobacco Act and highlights existing efforts by police and the Department of Health.
AnsweredQoN 538Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Tobacco—Illegal supply
538. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Police:
I refer to illegal
tobacco, which is sold in stores often controlled by organised crime, and the
minister's public comments a fortnight ago that he wants to watch what other
states are doing.
(1) Can the minister confirm that every mainland
state has already introduced tough legislation?
(2) Has he been advised that South Australia has
had these new powers since 5 June and has already issued 50 shock closure
orders, which is making that state safer?
(3) Will the minister introduce tougher laws this
week to ensure they are passed this year or will he continue to leave WA
exposed to this risk?
538. Mr Adam Hort to
the Minister for Police:
I refer to illegal
tobacco, which is sold in stores often controlled by organised crime, and the
minister's public comments a fortnight ago that he wants to watch what other
states are doing.
(1) Can the minister confirm that every mainland
state has already introduced tough legislation?
(2) Has he been advised that South Australia has
had these new powers since 5 June and has already issued 50 shock closure
orders, which is making that state safer?
(3) Will the minister introduce tougher laws this
week to ensure they are passed this year or will he continue to leave WA
exposed to this risk?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) This is a matter under the Tobacco
Act not the police, but I will give these details. From January this year, the
WA Department of Health has conducted more than 1,600 inspections in Western
Australia. It has seized more than 190,000 vapes, 460,000 cigarettes and over
85 kilograms of loose tobacco. I can add to that. WA police have been very
active in this area and they are concerned about the role of organised crime in
the illicit tobacco trade.
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Kalamunda, you have asked the
question.
Mr Reece Whitby: In August there was a drive-by
shooting incident in Western Australia and police acted quickly. They laid
charges against a 29-year-old man. They charged that individual with four
counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, two counts of firing a
firearm to the danger of or in a manner likely to cause fear to the public or
any person and one count of possession of a prohibited drug. In addition to
that, the serious organised crime division executed over 830 search warrants
across the state in 2024–25, at an average of about 16 per week.
Members, I can add—
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Kalamunda!
Mr Reece Whitby: I can add the comments of our police
commissioner who has identified the fact that our very tough—in fact,
the toughest—anti-bikie laws in the country are helping our police by
giving them the power to take the houses, guns,
illicit tobacco, drugs and expensive cars of organised crime operatives in this
area and to shut them down. These laws have led to the displacement of
organised criminals, who are acting in a FIFO capacity because the heat is too
hot in Western Australia because of Western Australia's tough laws.
In relation to
legislation, I can tell the member it is a matter for another minister; it
comes under the Tobacco Act. I can tell the member—
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Kalamunda, please stop
interjecting. You have asked the question. If you want to have a supplementary
question, then you will not interject anymore.
Mr Reece Whitby: Mr Speaker, Western Australia wants
to have the toughest and the best laws in the country in relation to this
issue, so we are currently involved in putting those laws together. We are
looking at what the other states have put up because we want to have the
toughest, most effective and best anti–illegal tobacco laws in the
country.
Act not the police, but I will give these details. From January this year, the
WA Department of Health has conducted more than 1,600 inspections in Western
Australia. It has seized more than 190,000 vapes, 460,000 cigarettes and over
85 kilograms of loose tobacco. I can add to that. WA police have been very
active in this area and they are concerned about the role of organised crime in
the illicit tobacco trade.
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Kalamunda, you have asked the
question.
Mr Reece Whitby: In August there was a drive-by
shooting incident in Western Australia and police acted quickly. They laid
charges against a 29-year-old man. They charged that individual with four
counts of criminal damage or destruction of property, two counts of firing a
firearm to the danger of or in a manner likely to cause fear to the public or
any person and one count of possession of a prohibited drug. In addition to
that, the serious organised crime division executed over 830 search warrants
across the state in 2024–25, at an average of about 16 per week.
Members, I can add—
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Kalamunda!
Mr Reece Whitby: I can add the comments of our police
commissioner who has identified the fact that our very tough—in fact,
the toughest—anti-bikie laws in the country are helping our police by
giving them the power to take the houses, guns,
illicit tobacco, drugs and expensive cars of organised crime operatives in this
area and to shut them down. These laws have led to the displacement of
organised criminals, who are acting in a FIFO capacity because the heat is too
hot in Western Australia because of Western Australia's tough laws.
In relation to
legislation, I can tell the member it is a matter for another minister; it
comes under the Tobacco Act. I can tell the member—
Mr Adam Hort interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Kalamunda, please stop
interjecting. You have asked the question. If you want to have a supplementary
question, then you will not interject anymore.
Mr Reece Whitby: Mr Speaker, Western Australia wants
to have the toughest and the best laws in the country in relation to this
issue, so we are currently involved in putting those laws together. We are
looking at what the other states have put up because we want to have the
toughest, most effective and best anti–illegal tobacco laws in the
country.
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