The Victorian opposition is promising to extend how long shops can be shut down if they are found selling illegal tobacco.
Liberal leader Jess Wilson has unveiled the party’s plan to crack down on the illicit tobacco and vape trade which it says has been linked to arson attacks at 300 Victorian businesses and homes.
The Opposition is planning to increase the existing short-term closure orders from 90 days to 150 days if it wins the upcoming election.
It says that would bring Victoria in line with stronger closure provisions in South Australia.
The Liberals would also change laws to allow landlords to terminate a tenant’s lease without compensation as soon as a short-term closure order is issued against a tenant.
Other measures proposed by the Liberals include banning ATMs at retailers found selling illicit tobacco or operating without a licence and allowing authorised officers to seize all tobacco and e-cigarette products where breaches are identified.
The party is also proposing to make selling illicit tobacco a specific offence under its proposed Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations (RICO) laws.
The RICO laws are based on US laws that target organised crime bosses.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said the measures introduced by the current Labor government had failed to stop the trade in illicit tobacco.
“Victorians are sick of seeing illegal tobacco shops closed for a few weeks, then back open for business as if nothing happened,” she said.
“The number of outlets selling illicit tobacco has soared under Labor’s watch, and the criminals behind them are firebombing businesses and extorting owners.
“A government I lead will give authorities the powers to shut these operations down and keep them shut.”
In September, new laws came into effect that gave inspectors and police power to close businesses found to be selling illegal tobacco products.
The government said Tobacco Licensing Victoria was seeing smaller quantities of illicit tobacco on premises and shops choosing to self-close.
“Our inspectors are already out in force, shutting down illegal tobacco shops and seizing illicit products — with more than 130 shops already closed and more than $14 million in illicit tobacco seized,” a government spokesperson said.
“The Magistrates’ Court can already issue longer-term closure orders, and landlords can terminate leases because of the orders.
“The biggest threat to this crackdown is the Liberal-One Nation Coalition’s $40 billion cuts plan, which would undermine the inspectors and police doing this vital work and let illicit operators off the hook.”
Last month, a former federal police officer who established the Australian Border Force’s illegal tobacco unit slammed the Victorian government for its handling of the booming black market.
Rohan Pike, who founded the Tobacco Strike Team, criticised the Labor government for not moving quickly enough.
“Our government simply hasn’t cared about this problem for many years, and it’s just allowed it to fester and get completely out of control,” he said.
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