Published October 2024
The Opposition is calling on Labor to get serious in its efforts to stifle the growing illegal trade of vape and tobacco products after the Government revealed in Question Time today that no prosecutions have commenced since it announced its new enforcement crackdown.
This fortnight has seen nearly nightly fire-bombings at tobacco stores from Torrensville to Clearview to Stonyfell in a shocking escalation of the tobacco wars and raising serious concerns for community safety across Adelaide.
Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Jack Batty, today called on the Government to get cracking on its illegal tobacco crackdown.
“Labor’s efforts to snuff out illegal tobacco have hardly scratched the surface of this growing trade which is becoming increasingly dangerous,” Mr Batty said.
“The Government announced with much fanfare nearly five months ago a new ‘major enforcement crackdown’ to stifle this illegal trade. But today in Question Time we were shocked to learn there have been no actual prosecutions.
“Meanwhile, over 200 illegal tobacco stores continue to operate in the state and organised crime gangs are moving in to capitalise.
“Labor’s crackdown on illegal tobacco seems to be all smoke and mirrors so far – why haven’t they acted to shut down these 200 illegal tobacco stores before this war escalated?
“For weeks now, night after night, firefighters and police have been called out after fire bombings. Innocent residents and shop owners continue to live in fear while this Government sits on its hands.
“Shockingly the Minister revealed in Question Time today that no prosecutions have yet been made.
“What we need from Labor is prosecutions not media conferences.
“What is this Government waiting for? We know that up to 75% of the illegal tobacco market is infiltrated by serious and organised crime. Lives and livelihoods are at risk, and today the Parliament has been told that not a single prosecution has taken place.
“We need to urgently get cracking with this enforcement crackdown. If that means we need more CBS enforcement officers on the beat, then that’s exactly what the government should be considering. If that means better funding and resourcing Operation Eclipse, then Dan Cregan needs to equip our police with the tools they need to stamp out this dangerous and illegal behaviour.
“I can’t believe we have now got to the point in South Australia where if there are smokes, there are fires. It is unacceptable to have Molotov cocktails flying around our streets and suburbs – Labor needs to act, and they need to act now.”
Media contact: Lesley Johns 0412 583 577
