‘Delusional': Victorian government ridiculed after revealing plan to have just 14 inspectors enforce new tobacco licensing scheme
Premier Jacinta Allan's government is implementing a licensing scheme as part of its attempts to combat the state's ongoing illicit tobacco wars.
There have been at least 125 arson attacks and 130 arrests connected to the conflict since March 2023, which has seen outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime groups battle for control of a black market trade estimated to be worth $5 billion.
Details of the new tobacco licensing scheme were revealed on Wednesday, with the Allan government claiming it would begin the process to 'break the business model of organised crime'.
From July, businesses will be able to apply for licenses to sell cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco-related products, with enforcement for the new scheme to begin in February next year.
Under the scheme, any person found to be selling illicit tobacco will face fines of up to $355,000 or up to 15 years in jail, while businesses will face fines of more than $1.7 million.
In announcing the scheme, the Allan government claimed it was 'delivering boots on the ground to crack down on those breaking the law and backing the work of Victoria Police to disrupt the illicit tobacco trade.'
But the $46 million scheme is set to be enforced by just 14 licensing inspectors.
The government said the inspectors, who will work for Tobacco Licensing Victoria, will 'hit the streets to hold illegal operators to account'.
The inspectors will also support Victoria Police's Taskforce Lunar – set up to combat the illicit tobacco trade – by providing them with additional intelligence.
But Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin said the plan was akin to sending parking inspectors to confront hardened criminals.
'They're saying they're bringing in 14 inspectors to go out for a problem that is involving bikies, bombings and fires here across our state,' Mr Battin said.
'We're going to be effectively sending in parking officers to fix a problem of massive crime and corruption here in Victoria. That is a big problem.'
The Liberal leader – who is a former police officer – said the state's tobacco laws could only be combatted by Victoria Police.
'We're not talking about walking into a shop for someone who stole a Mars bar. We're talking about organised crime who have used fire bombings on more than 100 occasions across the state. You can't send in someone who's not qualified and trained to stop that crime,' he said.
'You've got to send Victoria Police to fix this issue. And that means intervention earlier. That means working with Victoria Police to give them the powers that they need to stop these crimes happening.
'We need to make sure Victoria Police have the powers. We need to make sure Victoria Police have the staffing they can to go out and address this issue.'
The government's announcement has also come under fire from Victorian Libertarian MP David Limbrick, who compared the plan to hire 14 illicit tobacco inspectors for the entire state of Victoria with the estimated 300 inspectors in Chicago to enforce alcohol prohibition in the 1920 – a city of around 3 million people.
'If the Victorian Government thinks 14 inspectors will suppress a multi-billion dollar industry, they are delusional. They seem to have no idea about the scale of organised crime in this state,' Mr Limbrick told SkyNews.com.au
The Libertarian MP backed NSW Premier Chris Minns' recent calls for a federal review of the tobacco excise, which has been cited as a major driver of the illicit tobacco trade.
'Until such time as federal excise is reduced, organised crime will continue to control the tobacco industry in this state,' Mr Limbrick said.
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