Published October 2025
New data obtained by the Opposition shows the futility of Labor’s fight against illegal tobacco, with authorities struggling to keep up with the volume of complaints.
The figures show 1,375 complaints have been made about the sale or supply of illicit tobacco or cigarettes this year but only 71 stores have received a temporary closure notice.
Shadow Minister for Police, Jack Batty, said many simply reopen after the ban ends and pick up where they left off.
“From this data it is clear that the Government is simply playing whack-a-mole when it comes to illegal tobacco,” Mr Batty said.
“Criminal gangs are running rings around Labor and laughing all the way to the bank.
“The Parliament has given the Minister extraordinary powers to shut down illegal tobacco stores – she just doesn’t seem to be using them.
“A temporary closure is not enough, we need to see permanent closures from the start.
“There must be a zero-tolerance policy for those who sell illegal tobacco and cigarettes.”
Mr Batty said the State Government needs to declare whether it joins the rest of the nation in calling for more support to tackle illegal tobacco from the Federal Government with Federal Labor’s tax hikes on tobacco driving the crime wave.
“That is why it is so disappointing that our newly minted Police Minister was nowhere to be seen when his counterparts met this week,” Mr Batty said.
“This isn’t just about the sale of illegal goods, it’s about the criminal gangs that are waging war on each other as they battle to profit from the black market for tobacco.
“There are almost daily reports of Molotov cocktails flying around and break-ins across our suburbs.
“We need to act before one of these fire-bombings has catastrophic consequences.”
Media Contact: Hayley McDonald 0408 100 373
