The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) is calling on the Victorian Government to immediately fast-track tobacco shop closure powers after another firebombing devastated multiple innocent businesses, warning every day of delay gives organised crime another opportunity to strike.
AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said reports that around 10 neighbouring businesses had been impacted by the attack highlighted that Victoria’s illicit tobacco crisis was no longer confined to rogue tobacco shops.
“Yet again, innocent business owners and the community have paid the price for organised crime,” Mr Foukkare said.
“This wasn’t just an attack on one illegal tobacco store.
It was an attack on an entire business community that should never have been put at risk in the first place.
“The shop at the centre of this attack could have already been shut down.
Instead, organised crime continues to operate while legitimate businesses are left to pick up the pieces.”
Mr Foukkare welcomed the leadership shown by Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns in recognising the serious threat posed by illicit tobacco and organised crime.
“Premier Rockliff and Premier Minns understand this is no longer just a tobacco issue – it’s a public safety issue, and both called out the sky-high tobacco tax as being the number one driver for the tobacco wars,” Mr Foukkare said.
“Premier Allen needs to follow in their footsteps and call on Anthony Albanese to acknowledge that excessive tobacco excise has become organised crime’s greatest business model.
“Plenty of people I talk to do not feel safe in Victoria, all because of the tobacco wars and it’s a joke.
“Enforcement alone will never solve this crisis while the enormous price gap between legal and illicit cigarettes continues to fuel organised crime.”
“The solution requires both stronger state enforcement and a serious conversation about federal excise policy.
Without both, these attacks will continue and more innocent Australians will suffer.”
Theo Foukkare is available for interview from 5am AEST on 0423 003 133.
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