New powers kick in to shut down, name and shame ‘dodgy’ tobacco shops

Dodgy tobacco shops will be shut down and publicly named and shamed under tough new powers kicking in across Victoria on Wednesday.

Australian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Theo Foukkare told 3AW Mornings host Tom Elliott that the laws had been working in other states for some time.

Press PLAY to hear Foukkare outline how the new powers will operate

“In other states … the landlord has the ability to shut them down. Where they do that, about one in two never open again,” he said.

Leading black markets and the illicit nicotine trade researcher Dr James Martin told 3AW Mornings host Tom Elliott he doesn’t think the new powers will be very effective.

Press PLAY to hear why Dr Martin is not confident in the new powers

“It’s a scale problem and there really aren’t enough law enforcement resources that could ever be feasibly allocated, either at the border or at the retail level, to disrupt this trade,” he said.

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