New Laws Target Illegal Tobacco and Vapes in Western Australia
Western Australia has taken a significant step in its fight against the illegal tobacco and vape trade with the introduction of tough new laws. These measures have led to the first closure of a business under the new regulations, marking a turning point in the state's approach to tackling illicit products.
The legislation came into effect earlier this week, making it an offence for stores to sell, supply, or possess illegal tobacco or vaping products. Authorities, including WA police and the Department of Health, now have the power to shut down premises involved in such activities. The penalties for those caught breaking the law have also been increased, with maximum fines reaching $4.2 million for individuals and $21 million for companies, along with potential imprisonment of up to 15 years.
First Closure Under New Regulations
A Kalgoorlie barber shop became the first store in the state to be ordered to close under these new laws. The store was raided on the same day the legislation took effect, resulting in the seizure of nearly 2000 illegal cigarettes and about three kilograms of loose tobacco. Video footage from the raid shows officers entering the premises and speaking with a woman who appears to be serving customers. The walls are lined with products, and police escort her into a back room before searching the property and even going through garbage bins at the rear of the premises.
There is no sound on the video, and the source does not suggest any illegal activity by the woman featured in the footage. However, the incident highlights the aggressive enforcement of the new laws.
Widespread Impact of the Raids
Following the implementation of the new laws, six additional stores have also received closure orders. This includes one store in Bunbury and five from the metropolitan area. The raids were conducted by WA Health’s Tobacco Compliance Unit in partnership with WA police. To date, the operation has resulted in the seizure of nearly 142,000 illegal cigarettes, 5.2 kilograms of loose tobacco, and more than 600 vapes.
Minister for Health Meredith Hammat praised the efforts of the Tobacco Compliance Unit, stating that the first three days of the laws being enforced revealed the scale of illegal tobacco and vapes in WA. She emphasized that closure orders are a game-changer in the fight against illegal tobacco and that state and federal agencies will continue working together to remove these products from the streets.
Operation Maverick and Criminal Enforcement
Minister for Police Reece Whitby highlighted the effectiveness of Operation Maverick, a police taskforce aimed at disrupting organized criminal activity linked to the illicit tobacco and vape trade. He warned that anyone ignoring the new laws would face consequences, as the new powers allow for the closure of stores found to be involved in illegal activities.
Whitby stated that the new laws are designed to hit criminal operations hard, with immediate results in seizing tobacco, cigarettes, and vapes while preventing stores from re-opening the next day.
Criticisms and Ongoing Challenges
Despite the government's claims that the new laws are among the toughest in the nation, an Australian Council on Smoking and Health investigation recently found that WA ranked fourth in the country over its handling of illegal tobacco. In her agency’s report, chief executive Laura Hunter noted that recent changes to the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 have earned some points, but there is still much work to be done.
WA has struggled to keep up with the proliferation of illegal tobacco and vape stores across the state, despite warnings from the tobacco wars in Victoria since 2020. There have been several firebombings of tobacconists and convenience stores linked to the illegal tobacco trade, causing political challenges for the Cook government.
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