Tuesday, 3 February 2026

 Nathan LAMBERT (Preston) (20:27): (1490) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. As you will be aware, our new tobacco licensing scheme has just come into effect this week on Sunday, and I ask the minister to provide an avenue for MPs to provide information directly to Tobacco Licensing Victoria to assist with the enforcement of these new laws and with the registration requirements for all tobacco retailers.

I am sure many MPs here in the chamber are in the same position in that we have had businesses and locations raised with us that are a source of concern to our communities because those businesses are selling illegal tobacco, they are selling illegal vapes and in some cases they are selling nitrous oxide canisters at the same time. We, certainly in Preston and Reservoir, in our work, have had a number of businesses raised with us over a long period of time now whilst doorknocking around Broadway, Edwardes Street, High Street, Preston, Reservoir East Primary School and other areas, and in some cases there have been allegations that these businesses are selling those unlawful tobacco products to children. It is obviously not the role of any of us as MPs to act as police, but I have visited most of these businesses. They claim, as you would imagine, to be doing the right thing, but given the new laws and given some of the specific information we have been provided with, we would appreciate the opportunity through the minister to pass that on to Tobacco Licensing Victoria to support their new enforcement and compliance role.

Obviously, everyone’s main concern here is the selling of these harmful products in an unlawful way to people, but as many of us have seen, there is also concern around arson attacks. In fact we had one on Broadway last week. Of course that is of general concern to the community but particularly of concern to neighbours and businesses that are adjacent to these particular tobacco stores. Not only are there direct consequences for their safety, but some of them are facing very significant rises in their insurance premiums as a result.

There is obviously a bigger picture to this area, which is the very significant increase in tobacco excise by the federal government, certainly in my own lifetime. That has gone up very dramatically from the days when you could buy a packet of cigarettes, or at least a packet of 20, for less than $10 to the $50 amounts people are paying now –

Wayne Farnham interjected.

Nathan LAMBERT: Or $52, the member for Narracan informs me, and he perhaps would know. But we do support that policy arrangement. It is good for public health. It has been incredibly critical in bringing down smoking rates, and of course it reflects the true cost of tobacco smoking to all of us. We are very pleased that the new licensing scheme is in place now here in Victoria. Obviously, with that increased excise there is an increased need for compliance and licensing. We are very grateful to the minister and his team for their work and look forward to supporting the inspections, enforcement and compliance of Tobacco Licensing Victoria.