Illegal tobacco crackdown in Victoria has come too late, says ex-policeman
Premier Ben Carroll has conceded the Victorian government should have acted sooner on illegal tobacco but insisted progress had been made since the new enforcement powers came into effect.
A former federal policeman claims Victoria's handling of the illegal tobacco trade has been too slow. In September, inspectors and police gained new powers to close shops selling illicit tobacco for a 90-day trial period. Premier Ben Carroll acknowledged the government should have acted sooner but insisted the new laws were working.
Former federal police officer Rohan Pike, who established the Tobacco Strike Team, criticized the Labor government for not responding quickly enough to the issue. Since the new laws took effect on September 9, at least 51 closure notices have been issued. However, Pike argues that the measures have had limited impact on the illicit market, which has been involved in murders and numerous arson attacks.
He claims the process feels like a "whack-a-mole" situation. Pike also highlighted that under-resourcing has hindered tobacco enforcement efforts for years. The Victorian government recently increased the number of inspectors from 14 to 42, with most based in Melbourne, which has placed additional strain on regional police officers.
Pike stressed that policy changes at the federal level are necessary to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement efforts.
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