Liberals to demand tougher fines and longer closures when debate begins on tobacco crackdown

The State Opposition will push to beef-up Labor’s new tobacco laws in Parliament on Tuesday, demanding the inclusion of long-term closure orders and increased penalties for those that sell vapes or cigarettes to minors.

Legislation to combat the illicit tobacco trade was announced last week, however the Liberals will move to introduce a number of amendments to give the laws more bite.

One of the key amendments is introducing long-term closure orders of up to 12-months, as well as cutting out the Health Minister from such decisions.

Instead all responsibility would be given to the Department of Health director general.

Penalties for corporations selling tobacco or vapes to children would be significantly ramped-up under the Liberal’s proposal, up from the currently proposed $50,000 for first offenders to $300,000.

Subsequent offences would see the maximum fine double to $600,000.

Individuals would be fined up to $60,000 for a first offence, up from $10,000.

Landlords would also be handed more power, letting them terminate their leases with a tenant if the tenant is subject to a closure order.

Premier Roger Cook has promised changes to better protect landlords as part of a second tranche of legislation by the end of this year.

But shadow police minister Adam Hort said the time to act was now.

“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,” he said.

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

The debate comes after months of pressure on the Cook Government to take tough action seen elsewhere in the nation following multiple alleged firebombings on suspected illegal tobacconists.

The Opposition slammed the Bill as weak for omitting the introduction of long term closures, set to be included in Labor’s second tranche later this year.

“This is a test of leadership, and where the Government has been slow to act, the Opposition is prepared to step up,” he said.

“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.”

Police Minister Reece Whitby defended the pace of Labor’s reforms on Monday, and said the proposed penalties would be the toughest in the country.

“The Australian Council on Smoking and Health, of which Mr Hort used to be a member, has applauded the legislation, have recognised it’s very tough and said ‘well done, it’s what we needed’,” he said.

“We’ve got legislation which is amongst the toughest in the country.

“I note that Mr Hort was criticising legislation then admitted in the next breath on radio that he hadn’t seen it, so this is an Opposition that is so keen to criticise and to to attack the Government.”

Mr Whitby also said the legislation allowed for the short-term 90-day closure notices to roll on, allowing for a new closure notice to be implemented as soon as the last one expired.