Press Releases

Theo Foukkare, CEO, Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), gives his opinion on the new vaping laws and whether they will stifle or fuel the black market. Vaping in Australia has been a topic of discussion for several years now. For the last two years, the Australian Federal Government has adopted a world first prescription only approach to accessing nicotine vaping products. The intent of this approach was sound; however, the real-world experience is very different. Unfortunately, this approach has been rejected by doctors, pharmacists, and adult consumers. The direct result of this has seen the development of a black market that is selling dangerous unregulated products to more than 1.6 million adults and unfortunately providing open access to children. The black market supply is estimated to now be worth more than $3 billion per annum in retail sales, almost exclusively being supplied by a very sophisticated black market model.…

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has welcomed a move the by Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers to boost funding aimed at targeting Australia’s multi-billion dollar illicit tobacco black market – however it warns there is still a long way to go when it comes to tackling the out-of-control problem gripping Australia. AACS Theo Foukkare said the $188.5 million program – announced today – is a crucial step toward fighting what he describes as “one of the biggest public health, community safety and economic threats to this nation” in recent decades. “After years of advocacy by AACS, we are finally seeing the Federal Government invest a solid amount of money to help protect all Australians from the sinister illicit tobacco black market, including our retailers – who have been desperately calling for proper action,” Mr Foukkare said. According to media reports, the Federal Government will target black market tobacco dealers…

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has welcomed the passageof the Albanese Government’s Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023,but said it was a wasted opportunity to deliver a practical solution to the vaping crisisin Australian schools. AACS chief executive Theo Foukkare said the creation of an Illicit TobaccoCommissioner was a major step forward and would support the thousands ofresponsible retailers that had been unfairly losing out to black market operators thathad muscled in on the legal tobacco market after the government priced consumersout of the legal market. “The late amendments to this Bill proposed by the Coalition are most welcome,” Mr Foukkare said. “We look forward to the establishment of the Commissioner’s office and supporting this new resource to ensure it maximises its chance of success. “While it is extremely positive that there will be more enforcement of the current rules, our law abiding retailers have seen…

The National Food Supply Chain Alliance, made up of nine influential national food industryassociations representing 160,000 food businesses, has welcomed yesterdays ‘Australian Food Story– Feeding the Nation and Beyond’ report by the House of Representatives Standing Committee onAgriculture. It welcomes the emphasis on ‘supply chain resilience’ adding that it believes a riskmitigation strategy is critical to creating resilience and ultimately protecting the national economyand future prosperity. It welcomes the recommendation that the Australian Government coordinate with industry in thedevelopment of a National Food Supply Chain Map but says the map must include: a framework foridentifying supply chain risks (global and domestic), assessing their potential impact and thendeveloping a plan to reduce the impact of the threat. The Alliance says it’s a question of getting ahead of the risk and anticipating security needs and addressing them before they become problems. The Alliance, which represents every component of the nation’s food supply…

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has welcomed a move by the Queensland Government to introduce a ban the sale of knives to juveniles. AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said the new laws would help to protect retail workers and the widercommunity. “The safety and welfare of our members and the public is our highest priority,” Mr Foukkare said. “The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), which represents more than 1500 petrol andconvenience stores in Queensland congratulates the government on this new legislation. “Our retail members have welcomed these changes as they will go a long way to reducing access to the use of knives in crime related incidents being experienced across all retail settings. “This new legislation will ultimately help protect communities and all frontline retail staff. The Queensland Government’s proposed new laws include a maximum penalty of 140 penalty units, or $21,672, if a person sells a knife…

Small business petrol station owners have renewed a call for the Federal Government tohelp fund critical power grid upgrades that would allow them to install fast charginginfrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs). Australian Association of Convenience Stores (ACCS) CEO Theo Foukkare said businessowners wanted to offer the renewable energy option, however most were not able to fundthe half a million-dollar upgrade and installation cost. “We’ve got thousands of AACS members across the nation that want to go green – butthey’re not able to find the half a million dollars to do it on their own,” he said. The Federal Government’s released its Electric Vehicle Strategy in April, which it said aimedto boost supply and demand of EVs, which Mr Foukkare welcomed. “AACS is supportive of any plan to help Australians reduce emissions,” he said. “However, we really think a government funded program that helps small business ownersto pay for these critical…