Allan government under fire over tobacco licensing scheme

Premier Jacinta Allan has been accused of “fiddling while Rome burns” with Victoria now the only state in the country without a tobacco licensing scheme.

Premier Jacinta Allan has been accused of “fiddling while Rome burns” with Victoria now the only state in the country not operating a tobacco licensing scheme.

A state government report recommended a licensing scheme and stronger penalties in May 2022. But two years and three months on, nothing has been established.

And legislation is still thought to be several months away.

The only other state not to have a register, Queensland, started its scheme today after announcing it in October last year.

Since March last year there have been more than 95 firebombings on alleged illicit tobacco linked businesses, as criminal syndicates fight for market share of the booming illegal trade.

Police estimate there are more than 1200 shops in Victoria selling illegal tobacco, but without a licensing scheme or even a register, the full picture is unclear.

A Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) inquiry was set-up earlier this year but after three hearings and listening to evidence from 22 groups it is now drafting yet another report to be handed to the state government by November 30.

“Our Premier is literally fiddling while Rome burns,” an industry insider said.

“The scheme is not going to be the be-all and end-all – but it would bloody help.”

The price of cigarettes is set to go up by five per cent on Sunday.

He predicted a licensing scheme would not start in Victoria until the middle of next year at the very earliest.

“A report recommended this scheme more than two years ago and we’ve done nothing.

“In that time Queensland has launched its tobacco licensing scheme, there have been recommendations to strengthen NSW laws and SA has beefed up its enforcement agency. Where is the action from our government?”

The Herald Sun earlier this week revealed tax excise on cigarettes was going up by five per cent on Sunday prompting fears from criminologist Dr James Martin this would drive more customers to the black market and increase the violence on our streets.

“Victoria is unusual amongst Australian states in not having a licensing regime for the sale of tobacco products,” he said.

“In fact, you do not even need to be over the age of 18 to sell tobacco products in Victoria.

“There needs to be a strict licensing regime to make it easy for inspectors and have serious penalties associated with noncompliance such that we promote responsible behaviours amongst people who sell nicotine products in the same way as they do for alcohol products.”

He added: “But without addressing the lack of affordability for over taxed cigarettes, and the ongoing ban on consumer vapes, these problems are likely to get worse”.

Australian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Theo Foukkare said he hoped the long-awaited licensing program would help dismantle the underground trade.

“We are urgently calling on the premier to set up a stakeholder working group so that Victoria can have a gold standard licensing and enforcement program to put an end to the illicit tobacco market, which, if implemented correctly, could be a model that other states can learn from,” he said.

“We desperately need legislation to go before parliament in the remaining sitting weeks of 2024 and for the process to be fast tracked as early in 2025 as is physically possible.”