Tougher tobacco laws to smoke out criminals

The Opposition will move amendments to strengthen the Tobacco Products Control Act,

bringing Western Australia into line with tougher laws already operating across the country

and delivering the enforcement powers needed to dismantle the illicit tobacco trade.

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The Opposition has drafted key provisions to introduce long-term closure orders and empower

landlords to terminate leases of premises used for illegal tobacco sales.

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The amendments will also take closure order decisions out of the Health Minister’s hands and

put them with the Director General, with the ability to delegate those powers to health

authorities, so illegal stores can be shut down quickly without delays.

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The legislation introduced by the government last week alarmingly doesn’t give their “Tobacco

Tsar” the ability to shut down a single store.

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The Opposition will also move to significantly strengthen penalties for those caught selling

tobacco and vape products to minors.

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“The firebombings of shops, threats to innocent business owners and drive-by shootings must

stop, and these amendments will give authorities the tools to shut this trade down,” Police

Shadow Minister Adam Hort said.

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“We cannot afford to wait months for stronger laws while organised crime continues to

escalate. That is why the Opposition has done the work and brought forward practical, ready-to-go amendments.

“Western Australians are fed up with feeling unsafe in their own communities while gangs and

bikies operate with increasing boldness.

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“Right now, tobacco stores have become one of the main sources of vapes for young people,

and parents and teachers are rightly sick of seeing this harm play out in our schools.

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“These amendments send a clear message to organised crime across Western Australia: if

you engage in this activity, you will be shut down.”

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The Opposition has consistently called on the Cook Labor Government to take decisive action

as violent incidents linked to the illicit tobacco trade have escalated across Western Australia.

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While other mainland states moved quickly to introduce strong, comprehensive reforms

throughout 2025, Western Australia has lagged behind, only now bringing forward a more

limited first phase of laws.

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Mr Hort said law-abiding business owners and innocent Western Australians had paid the

price for the Government’s inaction.

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“This is a test of leadership, and where the Government has been slow to act, the Opposition

is prepared to step up,” he said.

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“Western Australians deserve strong laws that match the scale of this problem, and we are

ready to work constructively with the government to make sure that happens.

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“We will continue fighting for Western Australians who are sick of this activity and for the small

business owners who are being put at risk by it.”

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Other states have already demonstrated that strong closure powers, landlord enforcement

mechanisms and delegated authority can rapidly disrupt illegal operations The Opposition

believes there is no justification for Western Australia adopting a weaker or delayed approach.

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The Opposition’s amendments are designed to ensure that the weak “tranche one” legislation

introduced by the Cook Labor Government last week delivers meaningful, real-world impacts,

rather than requiring further fixes months down the track while criminal activity continues to

escalate.

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“We will work constructively with the Government to strengthen this legislation so that Labor’s

tranche one legislation actually has the powers needed to shut these operations down,” Mr

Hort said.

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Media contact: Hayden Tognela – 0467 044 028

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