09/10/2024
The State Government will seek to legislate powers for the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs to shut down a premises if she suspects that illicit tobacco products or vapes are being sold or supplied on site.
Her initial order can apply for 72 hours and can be extended to up to six months with the approval of a Magistrate.
Any business who violates such an order can be hit with a penalty of up to $1.1 million and an individual up to $700,000.
It’s the latest step in the Malinauskas Government’s nation-leading crackdown on the illicit vape and tobacco market with it estimated that organised crime groups control 75 per cent of the illicit tobacco market in Australia.
Consumer and Business Services has now seized more than $1 million of illicit tobacco and vapes since July 1 including more than 500,000 cigarettes and 12,492 vapes.
This follows the Malinauskas Government’s $16 million investment in a dedicated taskforce within Consumer and Business Services (CBS).
Since then, CBS have been conducting regular inspections and raids and have found that despite being raided, some illicit stores are up and running again almost immediately. These new powers will mean they can be shut down and prevented from trading for up to six months.
We have also introduced significantly higher penalties relating to the sale and use of vapes and tobacco products of up to $1.5 million to Parliament.
The Malinauskas Government will continue to stamp out this illicit trade and encourages people to report illegal tobacco or vape dealers via www.cbs.sa.gov.au/tobacco
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