The Carroll Labor Government’s much-hyped tobacco closure powers have shut a tiny fraction of Victoria’s black-market shops, while criminals are already dodging inspectors by selling only at night and on weekends.
Shadow Minister for Liquor and Gaming, Tim McCurdy, said reports this week had exposed a crackdown that was too slow, too small and too easy to beat.
Reports this week confirm that 22 stores were closed in the first 10 days of the new powers, compared with 148 shut down by Queensland in its first 10 days. It has also been reported that 48 stores have now been issued with closure orders, out of an estimated 1600 black-market operators across Victoria.
“Forty-eight closures out of 1600 illicit shops is about three per cent. That is not a crackdown, that is a token effort,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Black market operators are not just going to just fall in line with a government media release, they are just finding another way around some pretty loose enforcement.
“An elected Liberal and Nationals Government will bolster laws, and close down retailers who break the law, so Victorians can see real results, not spin.”
Victorians are also being given different numbers depending on the day and who is counting. The Carroll Labor Government should be publishing a clear, running tally, not leaving newspapers to piece it together.”
Operators in some areas have responded to Labor’s meek efforts by now selling illicit cigarettes only after business hours or on weekends, because they believe inspectors are not working.
“Criminals have worked out that Labor’s inspectors clock off at 5pm and don’t work weekends. They’re now selling product at night, keeping stock in the boots of cars and hiding it in boxes made to look like rubbish,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Labor took more than nine months longer than Queensland and NSW to introduce these powers, and the black market has used every day of that delay to prepare.”
Mr McCurdy said it was foolish for anyone to believe the Labor government could police a multibillion-dollar black market without tougher laws.
“Shut the doors for 90 days and the gangs simply work around it and reopen somewhere else. Without prosecutions, there is no real deterrent,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Meanwhile illicit cigarettes are still selling for $16 a packet, while firebombings continue to terrorise communities. Labor promised Victorians a crackdown, and criminals are laughing and dancing around what they’ve delivered.”
