POLITICAL ALERT – AACS RETAILERS BACK COALITION’S REAL-WORLD POLICY TO END DEADLY ILLICIT TOBACCO BLACK MARKET (FED)

The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has endorsed the Coalition’s real-world policy to finally quash Australia’s deadly illicit tobacco and nicotine black market for good.

AACS CEO Theo Foukkare said responsible retailers fully support the Coalition’s policy that would cripple the illicit tobacco black market and return tobacco control to the Federal Government and authorities.

“The illicit tobacco black market is organised crime’s golden goose and the Coalition’s policy will kill it.

“AACS members urge Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to immediately adopt the Coalition’s policy in an act of bipartisanship that will put the welfare of Australian retailers and communities well ahead of politics,” Mr Foukkare said.

Mr Foukkare said AACS members had spent years desperately trying to get the Federal Government to shut down the illicit tobacco and nicotine black market.

“AACS saw the illicit tobacco black market start and we’ve sounded the alarm for years now, but the Federal Government has always ignored us and allowed it to grow into the enormous beast it is today.

“Our members – responsible retailers who employ law-abiding frontline staff – are suffering mentally, physically and economically. Community safety is at risk because of arson attacks, and people have even been killed in cases of mistaken identity that are tied to the illicit tobacco black market.

“Countless experts in criminology, economics and law enforcement have long called for action too – only to also be ignored. Continued, aggressive excise hikes and indexation on legal tobacco products have only sent more Australians to the black market – experts and AACS have continually warned about that.

“The Coalition’s illicit tobacco policy will see tobacco excise slashed by 80 per cent, introduce a regulated and controlled vaping market and provide an additional $200 million in enforcement funding. This is a real-world policy that will make sure the Government can take back control over tobacco control.

“The Coalition’s policy covers all areas of concern when it comes to the illicit tobacco black market, including illicit smokes, vapes and nicotine pouches. We can’t fault it.

“Today we’ve seen in a letter to the Prime Minister by former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth, renowned economist Richard Holden and former Australian Border Force Head of the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce Rohan Pike urging the PM to adopt the policy as a matter of urgency.

“This is the Albanese Government’s opportunity to put politics aside for the benefit of community safety and finally shut down this deadly, dangerous and unnecessary threat to all Australians,” Mr Foukkare said.

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