❓ The WA Minister for Health provided an update on new laws targeting illegal tobacco and vaping, highlighting increased penalties, additional resources for the Department of Health, and the immediate impact of closure orders on illicit trade, with 39 stores already closed statewide.
AnsweredQoN 349Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Tobacco and vapes—Illegal sales—Legislation
349. Mr Mark Folkard to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's new laws to crack down on the dangerous illegal tobacco and
vaping trade in WA.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house
what results these new laws are delivering?
(2) Can the minister advise the house
what impacts this has on the WA community?
349. Mr Mark Folkard to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's new laws to crack down on the dangerous illegal tobacco and
vaping trade in WA.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house
what results these new laws are delivering?
(2) Can the minister advise the house
what impacts this has on the WA community?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I am very happy to give an update about
the work that we are doing to control harmful tobacco products in this state.
We know that they are very harmful to the health of not just young people but people
generally in Western Australia. Last year, we saw a dangerous escalation in
criminal behaviour relating to the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes. We saw
fire bombings and standover tactics by organised crime groups, and that is why
we updated our legislation.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: Our laws now include new offences
and penalties based on what has been effective elsewhere in Australia. That
includes new penalties for the possession of large quantities of illicit vapes
and tobacco. We have increased penalties for existing offences, with the maximum
penalty for possession of a large commercial quantity of illicit tobacco or
vaping products now at $4.2 million for an individual and $21 million
for a company and up to 15 years imprisonment. That is a significant deterrent
to anyone considering whether to participate or to continue participating in
that activity. We have provided additional resources to the Department of
Health so that the tobacco compliance unit now has the powers it needs to take
effective action. I am pleased to say that the team has been very busy and our new
closure orders have had an immediate impact on disrupting the illicit trade.
The first closure
order happened the day after the laws were proclaimed, and that closure order
was given effect in Kalgoorlie. We have now closed 39 stores around the state. Across
the metropolitan area, that includes entertainment hotspots like Fremantle and
Northbridge, but also many of our suburbs, because we have heard it loud and clear
from members of the public that they do not want these stores operating in their
communities.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: They do not want their kids—
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Member!
Ms Meredith Hammat: They do not want their kids having
access to these harmful products either.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Rita Saffioti interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are touchy on this.
We do not want any
of the criminal activity that it attracts. We are obviously very keen to see
these compliance activities continue to take strong action against the trade in
illicit tobacco and vapes across the state, because our government is committed
to putting the health and safety of the Western Australian community first.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, I am going to call you
for the first time. Stop interjecting, please.
Ms Meredith Hammat: Members, that is what we will
always do as a government.
the work that we are doing to control harmful tobacco products in this state.
We know that they are very harmful to the health of not just young people but people
generally in Western Australia. Last year, we saw a dangerous escalation in
criminal behaviour relating to the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes. We saw
fire bombings and standover tactics by organised crime groups, and that is why
we updated our legislation.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: Our laws now include new offences
and penalties based on what has been effective elsewhere in Australia. That
includes new penalties for the possession of large quantities of illicit vapes
and tobacco. We have increased penalties for existing offences, with the maximum
penalty for possession of a large commercial quantity of illicit tobacco or
vaping products now at $4.2 million for an individual and $21 million
for a company and up to 15 years imprisonment. That is a significant deterrent
to anyone considering whether to participate or to continue participating in
that activity. We have provided additional resources to the Department of
Health so that the tobacco compliance unit now has the powers it needs to take
effective action. I am pleased to say that the team has been very busy and our new
closure orders have had an immediate impact on disrupting the illicit trade.
The first closure
order happened the day after the laws were proclaimed, and that closure order
was given effect in Kalgoorlie. We have now closed 39 stores around the state. Across
the metropolitan area, that includes entertainment hotspots like Fremantle and
Northbridge, but also many of our suburbs, because we have heard it loud and clear
from members of the public that they do not want these stores operating in their
communities.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Meredith Hammat: They do not want their kids—
Mr Shane Love interjected.
The Speaker: Member!
Ms Meredith Hammat: They do not want their kids having
access to these harmful products either.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms Rita Saffioti interjected.
Ms Meredith Hammat: They are touchy on this.
We do not want any
of the criminal activity that it attracts. We are obviously very keen to see
these compliance activities continue to take strong action against the trade in
illicit tobacco and vapes across the state, because our government is committed
to putting the health and safety of the Western Australian community first.
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, I am going to call you
for the first time. Stop interjecting, please.
Ms Meredith Hammat: Members, that is what we will
always do as a government.
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