Melbourne’s iconic Chapel Street is now overrun with illicit tobacco traders, leaving local businesses exposed to crime and residents living in fear.
Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs, Tim McCurdy, said the Allan Labor Government had failed the community by acting too late.
Victoria remains the only state in Australia without a serious, properly enforced licensing scheme to tackle illicit tobacco.
The Liberals and Nationals previously put forward a Bill to create a licensing framework with penalties of up to $1 million for illegal operators, but Premier Jacinta Allan rejected it; only to introduce a watered-down scheme weeks later.
New South Wales has almost 50 inspectors tackling this issue, while Victoria is left with just 14 inspectors – the same number as Tasmania. The inspectors are not tobacco specialists and re-deployed from other areas.
“Chapel Street is a fashion icon, a place where small businesses should thrive with people coming from all over to shop, eat and enjoy themselves,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Now shop owners face fire bombings, skyrocketing insurance costs and organised crime moving in next door. This is not the Chapel St we know and love.
“Fourteen inspectors to deal with more than 1000 illicit tobacco shops across Victoria is laughable.
“International gangs are running a billion-dollar black market, and Labor thinks a handful of inspectors will solve it. No wonder Victoria has become the dumping ground for illegal tobacco.”
Mr McCurdy will raise these issues at the Prahran Community Safety Forum today from 6.30pm to 8pm at Pran Central Shopping Centre.
The forum, hosted by Rachel Westaway MP, Member for Prahran, will also include Shadow Minister for Police, David Southwick. Residents and business owners are encouraged to attend.
