A tobacco shop on St Georges Road in Fitzroy North has been destroyed in a suspected firebombing, damaging two neighbouring businesses and leaving the community to count the cost of the Carroll Labor Government’s failure to get on top of the illicit tobacco trade.
Police were called to reports of explosions near Holden Street at 3.36am this morning. Detectives believe offenders forced their way into the shop and set it alight, and a dark coloured vehicle was seen leaving the scene.
The news comes as the Australian Council on Smoking and Health has ranked Victoria behind every other mainland state in tackling the black market tobacco trade.
Shadow Minister for Liquor and Gaming, Tim McCurdy, said Victorians were sick of waking up to news of yet another firebombing.
“This is a busy local shopping strip, and two innocent businesses next door have been caught up in a criminal turf war that the Carroll Labor Government has let run out of control,” Mr McCurdy said.
“These attacks are happening in the middle of the night, terrifying families and business owners, and it is no surprise that we are behind every other mainland state in tackling the core of this problem.
“Labor keeps telling Victorians it has a crackdown under way, but the firebombings keep coming and the black market keeps growing.”
Mr McCurdy said the Carroll Labor Government’s new closure powers had barely made a dent, with only 48 closure orders issued against an estimated 1600 illicit operators across Victoria.
“Forty-eight out of 1600 is about three per cent. Organised crime has looked at that number and concluded it can keep operating, and keep burning down anyone who gets in its way,” Mr McCurdy said.
“Small businesses on St Georges Road did nothing wrong, and they are now dealing with the damage, the disruption and the fear that they could be next. Victoria is languishing behind other Australian state in controlling tobacco and that has to change.
Mr McCurdy said an elected Liberal and Nationals Government would back police and give them the tools to shut down illegal operators for good.
“An elected Liberal and Nationals Government will bolster laws, increase police presence and close down retailers who break the law, so Victorians can finally see real results and not another round of spin.”
