Western Australia Passes Strict Tobacco Amendments: $21M Fines and Store Closures

The Cook Government has successfully pushed priority amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 through the Legislative Assembly, establishing some of the nation’s strictest illicit tobacco penalties. The legislation introduces immediate 90-day store closure orders and escalates maximum corporate fines to $21 million for possessing commercial quantities of illegal vapes and tobacco. The bill now moves to the Legislative Council for final debate.

Escalated Financial Penalties and Prison Terms

Western Australia is recalibrating its deterrence strategy against the black market tobacco trade by drastically increasing the cost of non-compliance. Under the new framework, the financial risk for organized crime groups shifts significantly. Individuals caught with large commercial quantities of illicit tobacco or vapes face fines up to $4.2 million and potential imprisonment of up to 15 years.

For corporations, the penalty ceiling rises to $21 million. Premier Roger Cook framed these measures as a necessary tool to “crush this dangerous trade,” specifically targeting the supply chain “kingpins” rather than just low-level retailers. This legislative move aligns WA’s punitive measures with the highest benchmarks in Australia, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to the unregulated nicotine market.

Operational Disruption: The 90-Day Closure Rule

Beyond financial penalties, the amendments introduce a critical enforcement mechanism: the interim store closure order. Compliance officers from WA Health can now shut down businesses for up to 90 days while investigations are active. This provision prevents retailers from continuing to profit from illicit sales while legal proceedings are underway, addressing a common loophole in previous regulatory enforcement.

Health Minister Meredith Hammat confirmed that a second tranche of legislation is scheduled for introduction later this year. This subsequent bill aims to further tighten licensing requirements and introduce long-term closure orders of up to 12 months for repeat offenders.

Enforcement Metric	New Penalty / Limit
Max Corporate Fine	$21 Million
Max Individual Fine	$4.2 Million
Max Prison Term	15 Years
Interim Store Closure	Up to 90 Days

Taskforce Maverick and Regional Enforcement

The legislative update empowers existing operational units. Taskforce Maverick, established by the WA Police Force, has already charged 22 individuals with over 60 serious offences. Acting Police Minister Dr. Tony Buti emphasized that the new laws provide the necessary legal leverage for police to dismantle organized crime groups embedded in the tobacco trade.

Recent operations highlight the scale of the challenge. A single investigation in regional Western Australia uncovered nearly 100,000 illicit cigarettes and over 37 kilograms of loose-leaf tobacco. While the legislative framework is robust, the practical success of these amendments will depend on the sustained capacity of the expanded Tobacco and Vape Compliance Unit to police WA’s vast geographic expanse effectively.

Read more: Western Australia Bans Vaping in All Enclosed Workplaces
Public Release: Tough new tobacco laws pass the Lower House

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Marcus Sterling

Marcus Sterling is a distinguished authority in the global vaping sector, with over 12 years of experience documenting the industry's evolution from a niche hobby to a mainstream lifestyle.

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