❓ Mr. Rundle questions the Minister for Health about the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026, specifically regarding the limited delegation of closure order powers in regional WA and the impact on immediate enforcement against illegal tobacco shops. The Minister's response is non-committal, deferring detailed discussion and citing similar provisions in South Australia.

Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 202653.Mr Peter Rundleto theMinister for Health:I refer to the minister's Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026, in which closure order powers sit with the minister and can only be delegated to the director general. In regional Western Australia, where towns are hundreds or thousands of kilometres apart and enforcement teams are based in Perth, why has the minister refused to allow those powers to be delegated further so local authorities and regional enforcement teams can shut down illegal tobacco shops immediately?

Ms Meredith Hammat replied:I thank the member for the question. Again, I am sure there will be lots of opportunity to talk about those issues when we get to consideration in detail. The same provisions on who has authority to make closure orders exist in South Australia. Obviously, there is a desire to strike a balance between taking fast action where illicit tobaccotrade is undertaken and ensuring the requirements of the act are satisfied. That is the advice we have received onhow those two objectives can be met. Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026