❓ Ms. Warr questions the Minister for Health's absence from a meeting regarding illicit tobacco sales and the Department's enforcement efforts. The Minister responds, clarifying attendance and outlining government actions.
AnsweredQoN 362Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Tobacco—Illicit supply
362. Ms Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Health:
On behalf of the
Nationals WA and other members on this side, I wish the Premier and the
Attorney General a very happy birthday today.
I refer to reports
of high-level meetings this week to discuss tougher penalties for the sale and
supply of illicit tobacco.
(1) Given that the Department of Health is
responsible for enforcing tobacco sales in WA, did the minister attend this
meeting and, if not, why was the Minister for Health absent from such a
critical discussion?
(2) With retailers openly and brazenly selling
black market tobacco, why is the minister's department failing to enforce the sale
of these products?
362. Ms Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Health:
On behalf of the
Nationals WA and other members on this side, I wish the Premier and the
Attorney General a very happy birthday today.
I refer to reports
of high-level meetings this week to discuss tougher penalties for the sale and
supply of illicit tobacco.
(1) Given that the Department of Health is
responsible for enforcing tobacco sales in WA, did the minister attend this
meeting and, if not, why was the Minister for Health absent from such a
critical discussion?
(2) With retailers openly and brazenly selling
black market tobacco, why is the minister's department failing to enforce the sale
of these products?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question.
I can confirm that I did not attend that meeting, but it was well attended by
the Minister for Preventative Health and the Minister for Police. A number of
staff were a part of that discussion as well.
Mr Roger Cook: And the Premier!
Ms Meredith Hammat: I beg your pardon, Premier. The
Premier attended as well! I apologise. Of course, senior staff from the
department attended as well. This is an issue that we are taking incredibly
seriously. We are making sure that we have the right framework in place for
legislation around this important issue. It is an issue that the government is
working on not just in terms of making sure that we are undertaking compliance
activities and using the laws that currently exist to their full effect, but
also by giving consideration to what more we need to do to strengthen those
laws to ensure that our community is kept safe.
I can confirm that I did not attend that meeting, but it was well attended by
the Minister for Preventative Health and the Minister for Police. A number of
staff were a part of that discussion as well.
Mr Roger Cook: And the Premier!
Ms Meredith Hammat: I beg your pardon, Premier. The
Premier attended as well! I apologise. Of course, senior staff from the
department attended as well. This is an issue that we are taking incredibly
seriously. We are making sure that we have the right framework in place for
legislation around this important issue. It is an issue that the government is
working on not just in terms of making sure that we are undertaking compliance
activities and using the laws that currently exist to their full effect, but
also by giving consideration to what more we need to do to strengthen those
laws to ensure that our community is kept safe.
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