The Wild West of illicit tobacco in Western Australia has reached a boiling point, with violent crimes like arson and drive-by shootings allegedly linked to the trade. The WA government is declaring war on these "tobacco thugs", but their strategy is already sparking debate.
To combat this growing menace, the WA government is forming a specialized taskforce within the Department of Health. This isn't your typical government initiative; they plan to recruit both current police officers looking for a change of pace and retired veterans to tackle the problem head-on.
Leading this new team of investigators is WA Police Superintendent Steve Post, now dubbed the "illicit tobacco tzar.” His message to those involved in the illegal tobacco market is stark: "Get out while you can. We will be strengthening our enforcement...and we will use the new laws to great effect." Think of it as a high-stakes game where the consequences are far more severe than just a slap on the wrist.
Currently, the Department of Health is responsible for inspecting businesses and handing out penalties for selling illegal tobacco products in WA. Superintendent Post's new role will involve building this taskforce and coordinating its efforts.
WA Premier Roger Cook emphasized the collaborative spirit, stating, "WA Police and Health will work closer together than ever before. We don't want to see tobacco thugs terrorising the community. They must be stopped." The Premier's words paint a grim picture, highlighting the real impact of this illegal trade on the safety and security of local communities.
But here's where it gets controversial... The WA Police Union President, Dave Flaherty, has voiced strong concerns about pulling officers away from frontline duties. "We know already that there are vacancies in police stations, now we're saying we're going to take more to fill this task force," Flaherty argues. "Who's filling the void? Who's answering the call if they keep taking people from the front line?" This raises a critical question: Is the government robbing Peter to pay Paul? Are they solving one problem by creating another?
To bolster their efforts, the WA government is drafting new laws that would grant authorities the power to immediately shut down businesses caught selling illicit tobacco. Police Minister Reece Whitby explains, "They're going to give us extra powers to immediately shut down premises. This is one of the great frustrations we have at the moment because we can fine someone, but we can't shut them down."
Other states, like Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia, have already implemented similar laws. This begs the question: Why has WA been so slow to act?
Whitby defends the existing efforts, asserting that "Police have already been kicking down the doors. We've got multiple arrests, we've got people sitting in jail right now, including the superior kingpins." And this is the part most people miss... He emphasizes that the key is to improve the compliance level within the Health Department.
The WA Government is allocating $5 million to fund the new compliance officers. While they haven't publicly disclosed the exact number of staff members that will be part of the task force, Health Minister Meredith Hammat promises it will be a "significant uplift." The secrecy surrounding the taskforce's size is, according to Hammat, to "protect the confidentiality of the people who work in that unit."
So, is this new task force the answer to Western Australia's illicit tobacco problem? Will it effectively dismantle the criminal networks involved, or will it simply shift the problem elsewhere? And more importantly, is it worth pulling resources away from other critical policing areas? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
