❓ Mr. Zempilas questions the Minister for Health regarding the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026, specifically asking if the Minister agrees with the Premier that the bill doesn't go far enough and whether she will support opposition amendments to toughen the laws. The Minister avoids direct answers, highlighting the importance of the bill and ongoing efforts to combat illicit tobacco.

Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 202650.Mr Basil Zempilasto the Minister for Health:I refer to the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026.(1) Does the minister agree with the Premier that the bill she has introduced does not go far enough?(2) Will she be supporting the opposition's amendments to toughen the laws?(3) If no to (2), why not?

Ms Meredith Hammat replied:(1)–(3) �I thank the member for the question. There will be a lot of opportunity to talk about our tobacco laws today in Parliament. I note that we are doing not only the second reading, but also a matter of public interest on it, so we may as well use question time to also talk about the work—Mr Basil Zempilas:It's pretty important.Ms Meredith Hammat:I agree; it is a very important issue, and I am very happy to talk about what we are doing, so thank you for the opportunity.As members know, the bill has been introduced to Parliament, and we have been clear that we are progressing our desires around compliance in two tranches. Tranche 1 has been introduced as a way of ensuring that the compliance team has at its disposal the laws that it needs to assist it in the really important compliance work that it is doing. This is in response to what we have seen in more recent months, which is a very extended escalation in the tobacco trade and, in particular, the evidence of organised crime operating in that area. That is why we have introduced the laws to Parliament. As we have said, those laws include some of the toughest penalties in Australia for those involved in the illicit tobacco trade, including up to 15 years imprisonment, $4.2 million fines for individuals and $21 million fines for companies and, importantly, the introduction of store closure orders of 72 hours and 90 days. As I say, the laws are important for our compliance unit. Members will be well aware that in January we announced an increase in the resourcing to that unit, as well as the appointment of Superintendent Post to oversee the work.I have been clear in this place that the laws and the compliance activities are an important part of the work we need to do. In particular, the cooperation between WA Health, WA police and, indeed, federal agencies is a key part of how we will be able to break the trade in illicit tobacco, and that is what we are doing.Several members interjected.The Speaker:Members, the minister is responding.Ms Meredith Hammat:That is what we are doing. I am very heartened to see on the day that we begin the debate that we have had support from the Australian Council on Smoking and Health calling, in fact, on all of us in this place to progress the passage of those laws through this place as quickly as possible. That is what we are doing. We are getting on with passing the laws. We know that they are important to ensure that our compliance team has the enforcement mechanisms that it needs. We are very clear that we will be pursuing additional tranches of legislation later this year. Tobacco Products Control Amendment Bill 2026