Businesses selling illegal vapes and tobacco targeted with jail time in new laws
A big change is coming to Queensland businesses under tough new laws. HAVE YOUR SAY
Businesses who knowingly permit the illegal dealing of cigarettes and vapes will face hefty fines and up to a year in jail under new laws passed on Wednesday night.
The state government introduced the tough new laws to tackle the booming illegal tobacco market and alongside harsh penalties, investigators will also be awarded new powers.
It is now a criminal offence for commercial landlords to knowingly permit illegal tobacco or activity, with a maximum penalty of a $166,900 fine and 12 months in jail.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls said Queensland is setting the standard in the crackdown on the black market tobacco trade.
“The message is obvious: the Crisafulli government is leading the nation with a modern, tough and effective enforcement framework and other states are scrambling to keep up,” he said.
“It introduces a suite of novel, groundbreaking reforms that are so effective that, as I said, other jurisdictions, including their Labor colleagues in New South Wales, have already replicated aspects of Queensland’s model.”
In the past year, the government have seized more than 57 million illicit cigarettes, 7.7 tonnes of loose tobacco, 475,000 illicit vapes and 405,000 nicotine product – worth more than $75m.
Queensland Health will now be able to shut down illegal businesses for three months – up from three days – without going through court.
They will also be able to conduct undercover operators and seize all lawful smoking products found at illegal stores that are being supplied or stored alongside illicit tobacco and vapes.
This includes nitrous oxide bulbs and canisters, known as ‘nangs’.
Landlords will also have the power to terminate leases when they are notified their tenant is an illegal operator.
Mr Nicholls said the federal government needed to step up alongside state and territories to stop the illicit products from making it into the country.
“It (the laws) creates the most unfavourable operating environment possible for illicit traders, it strikes directly at the profit motives that fuel this market and makes it far easier for enforcement officers to identify, disrupt and shut down rogue operators,” he said.
The move was welcomed by Cancer Council Queensland, which Mr Nicholls said played an instrumental role in bringing the laws to fruition.
“Cancer Council Queensland has been advocating for tougher measures on illicit tobacco for some time. We are so pleased to see this legislation passed with bipartisan support,” Cancer Council Queensland CEO Matt Gardiner said.
“Tobacco-related diseases, including cancers, claim 66 Australian lives every day. Strong, evidence-based policies like this are vital to protect the next generation from addiction and preventable cancers.
“This Bill comes at a critical time as we are seeing a new wave of nicotine addiction fuelled by aggressive industry marketing and the rapid spread of illicit vape sales. The rise in youth vaping is particularly alarming.”
Originally published as Businesses selling illegal vapes and tobacco targeted with jail time in new laws
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