WA tobacco wars: Councillors fuel political fire-storm over illicit tobacco trade as Labor stalls on new laws

Fremantle councillors have accused the State Government of failing to act fast enough, as the tobacco wars haunt Roger Cook on the eve of Parliament’s return. Cr Andrew Sullivan compared the Cook Government to a “giant turtle lumbering across the plain”. “I don’t want to be sitting in Fremantle and watching a heritage building in the West End get bombed or a car driven through it or people injured because we haven’t actually tackled the problem as directly as it clearly needs to be tackled,” he said. Cr Frank Mofflin said it was disappointing the State Government “effectively watched” as the illegal tobacco industry spread. “We had indications of this well before it being established here on the east coast — they were sitting on their hands watching,” he said. Fremantle has voted to go it alone, and unanimously passed a motion to amend local planning rules to limit the number of convenience stores that can open in the port city. “If we’re doing this, hopefully (the State Government) will come to the party and do some real enforcement,” mayor Ben Lawver said. He has called on the Government to introduce legislation for shut-down orders, requested by police and in force inter-state, on day one when State Parliament resumes next week. “Locally our options are limited,” Mr Lawver said. “We’re just waiting for the State Government to act and we need better enforcement, better penalties.” Planning Minister John Carey again defended the slow pace of new legislation, that was first promised in August last year. He insisted the Government is “absolutely committed” to tougher laws, but couldn’t say when they will be introduced. “We’re working through and drafting that legislation,” Mr Carey said. The Opposition seized on Fremantle Council’s motion, to again accuse the Government of taking too long to act. “It is an indictment and an embarrassment for Roger Cook that local councils now feel forced to step in and do the State Government’s job for them,” Shadow Police Minister Adam Hort said. “If Roger Cook fails to introduce laws in the first week back that shut these shops down and evict dodgy illegal cigarette sellers, he will be sending a clear message that his Government is completely incapable of handling this community safety crisis.” Mr Carey wouldn’t commit to amendments to increase penalties in the short-term until more complex legislation can be passed, deferring questions. “The Government is looking at all options . . . I’m not pre-empting any announcements from the health portfolio,” Mr Carey said. “We are 100% committed to tougher legislation, penalties, and we’re working through that, and we understand the importance of this legislation.” A senior police officer was put in charge of WA Health’s tobacco compliance unit in January, in the wake of a series of fire bombings, ram-raids and robberies. The latest target was a convenience store in Kelmscott, that went up in flames on Tuesday. Freechoice Mart owner Ahmed Jarrar said he’d been threatened only days earlier and missed a phone call from police the day before the arson attack. “It gets very tiring,” Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. “This type of arson attack has a high risk of hurting or killing people.”