Victorians are paying the price for the Carroll Labor Government’s failure to regulate the illicit tobacco and nicotine market after another firebombing in Sunshine overnight.
Damning new evidence that almost every tobacco store checked across 110 Victorian suburbs is selling illicit nicotine products proves the Labor Government has completely lost control of the tobacco black market.
A recent media investigation into almost 200 stores found 162 selling illicit tobacco or vapes, an 84 per cent hit rate. Comparing to just 53 per cent in New South Wales and 29 per cent in Queensland, states that have actually enforced shop closure powers.
New South Wales has issued at least 421 closure orders since November last year, while Queensland issued 148 in the first 10 days of its laws being operational. In Victoria, closure powers were announced by Labor back in June. Months later, they are still not enforceable.
Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Jade Benham, said Victoria was falling behind other Australian states with the gap widening.
“This isn’t a black market anymore, it’s the open market,” Ms Benham said.
“Almost every single shop checked in this investigation was selling illegal tobacco or vapes. That is not a fringe problem, that is a government that has completely walked away from its job.
“While Victoria sits on its hands, organised crime gangs are literally firebombing their way across our suburbs to fight over turf. With more than 300 firebombings and counting, this government still hasn’t given police the tools to shut down one single dodgy shop.
Ms Benham called on the Carroll Labor Government to immediately proclaim its own closure laws so police finally have the power to act, and to properly fund enforcement instead of leaving 14 officers to police a multi-billion dollar criminal market
“Every day this government delays, organised crime figures get richer and more emboldened, and more Victorian families are left living next to the next firebombing target,” Ms Benham said.
“A Liberal and Nationals Government will bolster laws, put more inspectors on the beat and close down retailers who break the law.
“Victorians deserve a government that works and controls the tobacco market, not one that has handed it to organised crime.”
Shadow Minister for Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Tim McCurdy, said Labor’s grandstanding on illicit tobacco earlier this year was all spin and yet to tackle the growing crime crisis.
“Back in June, the government claimed it was ‘closing the door’ on illicit tobacco. Three months on, that door is still wide open,” Mr McCurdy said.
“The laws announced will have no effect. Meanwhile this investigation shows 84 per cent of shops checked in Victoria are selling illegal product, and the firebombings keep coming.
“It’s not enough to hold a press conference and announce a plan. The minister responsible needs to explain why, months later, his own government still hasn’t turned that plan into law.”
