Wednesday,7 February 2024


Adjournment

Illicit tobacco


Illicit tobacco

Victoria is lagging behind the other states when it comes to regulating the sale of tobacco. Currently traders do not require a licence to operate and sell tobacco in Victoria, unlike alcohol, where a liquor licence is mandatory. This loophole is seeing criminal activity soar. In Bendigo more generally crime has increased by nearly 10 per cent in the last year. There are currently more than 800 vacancies in Victoria Police and 43 stations have reduced their opening hours, while these attacks continue. The action I seek is for the minister to commit to increasing police resources to help address these ongoing and increasingly distressing criminal issues in Victoria.

The PRESIDENT: That last action is fine, Mrs Broad. I was wondering: at the start, did you ask for the introduction of legislation?

Gaelle Broad: Yes.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, so we will just do the last action.