LICENCE BID TO GIVE ILLICIT TOBACCO THE CHOP

INTRODUCING a licence for selling tobacco in Queensland is considered key in cracking down on the illicit sale of chop chop and illegally imported cigarettes.

Under the current legislation, shops selling tobacco have to register with the state government, but no licence is required, giving state authorities almost no power to police what is sold.

However, the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has been working with the tobacco industry and federal and state governments in a bid to change that.

If a licence was introduced, it would make it easier to track down businesses selling the illicit tobacco and potentially charge them. The industry is trying to get ahead of the illicit tobacco industry booming in the North, with it already causing significant damage to business in New South Wales, Victoria and the southern parts of Queensland.

AACS CEO Theo Fukkare said its members had reported an explosion of these illegal shops across the South East corner in the past 18 months.

“It’s bad news for legitimate retailers and the community that we’re now seeing them expand further north,” Mr Fukkare said.

“The current situation for legitimate retailers is very frustrating, they’re losing tens of thousands of dollars a week to these shops and aren’t able to get the help they need from the Health Department or police to shut them down.”

Mr Fukkare said AACS was in discussion with the Queensland government on the best way to eliminate the illicit tobacco trade, including retail licensing, and arming police with strong search and seizure powers.

A Queensland Health spokesman said illegal tobacco trading was a public health issue and a tax offence, and where possible, it works with federal government agencies to prevent it.

“We work closely with key stakeholders, including retail groups and our partner agencies, as part of Australia’s inter agency tobacco control response,” he said.

“We regularly review our tobacco laws to determine what more can be done to protect Queenslanders from the harmful effects of cigarettes and smoking products.

“If any changes are made to legislation, they will be done so in consultation with the public, the tobacco retail industry and d other th k key staketake holders, and communicated widely.”

The Australian Border Force, the lead authority in the Illicit Tobacco Taskforce, looks to deter, disrupt and dismantle serious organised criminal syndicates trading in illicit tobacco, a spokesman said.

“ABF officers stop large quantities of illicit tobacco every day at Australia’s international ports,” he said.

“Shipments being stopped range from single cartons of cigarettes ordered online by individuals to multi-tonne container loads with links to organised criminal groups.

“Shipments of illicit tobacco have been found to be concealed in all sorts of ways, including in bags of tea, salts, herbs, biscuits, beauty products, children’s toys and furniture to name just a few.

“Our officers use a variety of skills and technology to detect even the most creative and determined concealments.”