NSW to crack down on tobacco retailers in bid to curb black market

The New South Wales government is cracking down on the illegal tobacco trade, beefing up fines and warning shops and people selling tobacco products.

Transcript

00:00This right here is an illegal packet of cigarettes and the NSW Government today is issuing a

00:07warning for people trying to sell these.

00:10They've announced a suite of reforms that relate to significant fines to tackle the

00:15scope of what they say is a massive illegal trade of tobacco and they've shown some to

00:20the public here.

00:21As you'll see right across from the benches here, from packaged cigarettes as well as

00:26illegal chop-chop, Health Minister Ryan Park says a new suite of reforms including fines

00:32totalling more than $40,000 for individuals as well as more than $200,000 for corporations

00:38and businesses will be a significant step in combating the prolific illegal trade.

00:45This next plank is around three important reforms.

00:48A dedicated licensing system to make sure that we regulate what is an unregulated market

00:55at the moment.

00:56It brings us in line with other states and jurisdictions and unfortunately while we always

01:01like to lead the way in relation to public health, this is an area where NSW is somewhat

01:07playing catch-up but it is an area that Dr Chant and I are determined to fix.

01:13The state's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant says the scourge of cigarette smoke

01:18not just in a legal sense but also even in regulated legal form is still a major health

01:23issue not just NSW but the entire country is combating.

01:28We want to send a strong message to really disincentivise new entrants to the market

01:32and really a warning for those people that are currently doing the wrong thing.

01:37We also acknowledge that there is support for the licence, strong support from the licensing

01:41scheme from those businesses that are doing the right thing but again redirect my message

01:46the best thing you can do for health is to quit smoking.

01:49Already the state opposition has said it will support the state Labor government's

01:53reforms as it's an urgent crisis that needs tackling though they also want to see a state

01:59inquiry particularly focusing on the regional trade of tobacco which they believe has far

02:05widespread consequences that are disproportionately impacting country towns.

02:11Of course what you see behind me here isn't just taking place in NSW in terms of the proliferation

02:17of illegal tobacco it's a problem encountered right across the country.