Six shops ordered to shut under new illegal tobacco laws
Six shops in Western Australia have been ordered to close under new laws targeting the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, just days after the legislation came into effect. Authorities have seized over 140,000 cigarettes, 5.2 kilograms of loose tobacco, and 613 vapes during initial enforcement actions. The government says the swift action demonstrates the effectiveness of what it calls some of the toughest tobacco laws in the country.
- ▪The new laws, effective as of May 13, 2026, allow authorities to shut down stores selling illicit tobacco for up to 90 days.
- ▪Four of the closed stores are in metropolitan Perth and two are in regional WA, including Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Bunbury.
- ▪WA Health Minister Meredith Hammat stated the closures occurred within the first 72 hours of the law taking effect.
- ▪Laura Hunter of the Australian Council of Smoking and Health called for further legislative action, including penalties for landlords who enable illegal sales.
- ▪Police Minister Reece Whitby warned illegal tobacco vendors they will be caught and face consequences under the new regime.
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Six stores ordered to shut as WA's illegal tobacco laws come into force PBy Pip WallerBy Andrew WilliamsTopic:SmokingSun 17 May 2026 at 6:10pmSun 17 May 2026 at 6:10pmSun 17 May 2026 at 6:10pmLoading...abc.net.au/news/six-shops-ordered-to-shut-under-new-illegal-tobacco-laws-/106689786Link copiedShareShare articleMore than 140,000 illegal cigarettes have been seized and six stores ordered to close down, days after Western Australia's new tobacco laws came into force. The laws came into effect on Wednesday giving authorities the power to close stores allegedly caught selling illicit tobacco and vapes for up to 90 days and place higher penalties on offenders.The six stores include four in the Perth metro area and two in regional WA, with details made public on the health department website.
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