❓ Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026 50. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Minister for Health: I refer to the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026. (1) Does the minister agree with the Premier
AnsweredQoN 50Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026
50. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026.
(1) Does the minister agree with the Premier that
the bill she has introduced does not go far enough?
(2) Will she be supporting the opposition's
amendments to toughen the laws?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
50. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Minister for Health:
I refer to the
Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026.
(1) Does the minister agree with the Premier that
the bill she has introduced does not go far enough?
(2) Will she be supporting the opposition's
amendments to toughen the laws?
(3) If no to (2), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) �I thank the member for the
question. There will be a lot of opportunity to talk about our tobacco laws today
in Parliament. I note that we are doing not only the second reading, but also a
matter of public interest on it, so we may as well use question time to also
talk about the work—
Mr Basil Zempilas: It's pretty important.
Ms Meredith Hammat: I agree; it is a very important
issue, and I am very happy to talk about what we are doing, so thank you for
the opportunity.
As members know, the
bill has been introduced to Parliament, and we have been clear that we are
progressing our desires around compliance in two tranches. Tranche 1 has been
introduced as a way of ensuring that the compliance team has at its disposal
the laws that it needs to assist it in the really important compliance work
that it is doing. This is in response to what we have seen in more recent
months, which is a very extended escalation in the tobacco trade and, in
particular, the evidence of organised crime operating in that area. That is why
we have introduced the laws to Parliament. As we have said, those laws include
some of the toughest penalties in Australia for those involved in the illicit
tobacco trade, including up to 15 years imprisonment, $4.2 million fines for
individuals and $21 million fines for companies and, importantly, the
introduction of store closure orders of 72 hours and 90 days. As I say, the
laws are important for our compliance unit. Members will be well aware that in
January we announced an increase in the resourcing to that unit, as well as the
appointment of Superintendent Post to oversee the work.
I have been clear in
this place that the laws and the compliance activities are an important part of
the work we need to do. In particular, the cooperation between WA Health, WA
police and, indeed, federal agencies is a key part of how we will be able to
break the trade in illicit tobacco, and that is what we are doing.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, the minister is responding.
Ms Meredith Hammat: That is what we are doing. I am
very heartened to see on the day that we begin the debate that we have had
support from the Australian Council on Smoking and Health calling, in fact, on
all of us in this place to progress the passage of those laws through this
place as quickly as possible. That is what we are doing. We are getting on with
passing the laws. We know that they are important to ensure that our compliance
team has the enforcement mechanisms that it needs. We are very clear that we
will be pursuing additional tranches of legislation later this year.
question. There will be a lot of opportunity to talk about our tobacco laws today
in Parliament. I note that we are doing not only the second reading, but also a
matter of public interest on it, so we may as well use question time to also
talk about the work—
Mr Basil Zempilas: It's pretty important.
Ms Meredith Hammat: I agree; it is a very important
issue, and I am very happy to talk about what we are doing, so thank you for
the opportunity.
As members know, the
bill has been introduced to Parliament, and we have been clear that we are
progressing our desires around compliance in two tranches. Tranche 1 has been
introduced as a way of ensuring that the compliance team has at its disposal
the laws that it needs to assist it in the really important compliance work
that it is doing. This is in response to what we have seen in more recent
months, which is a very extended escalation in the tobacco trade and, in
particular, the evidence of organised crime operating in that area. That is why
we have introduced the laws to Parliament. As we have said, those laws include
some of the toughest penalties in Australia for those involved in the illicit
tobacco trade, including up to 15 years imprisonment, $4.2 million fines for
individuals and $21 million fines for companies and, importantly, the
introduction of store closure orders of 72 hours and 90 days. As I say, the
laws are important for our compliance unit. Members will be well aware that in
January we announced an increase in the resourcing to that unit, as well as the
appointment of Superintendent Post to oversee the work.
I have been clear in
this place that the laws and the compliance activities are an important part of
the work we need to do. In particular, the cooperation between WA Health, WA
police and, indeed, federal agencies is a key part of how we will be able to
break the trade in illicit tobacco, and that is what we are doing.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members, the minister is responding.
Ms Meredith Hammat: That is what we are doing. I am
very heartened to see on the day that we begin the debate that we have had
support from the Australian Council on Smoking and Health calling, in fact, on
all of us in this place to progress the passage of those laws through this
place as quickly as possible. That is what we are doing. We are getting on with
passing the laws. We know that they are important to ensure that our compliance
team has the enforcement mechanisms that it needs. We are very clear that we
will be pursuing additional tranches of legislation later this year.
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