Roger Cook faces pressure to push forward with illicit tobacco laws following increased WA smoking rates

Roger Cook has laid the blame for the WA’s increased rates of smoking on heightened immigration, arguing people are coming to the State with bad habits. It comes as the Health Department’s latest annual report revealed smoking rates increased for the first time since 1995 — up from 10 per cent in 2022-23 to 12 per cent. The number of people who have tried an e-cigarette has almost doubled to 24 per cent. The Premier defended his Government’s record on Tuesday morning during a tense press conference. Mr Cook butted heads with journalists while blaming increased migration for rising smoking figures. He bristled, when it was suggested the Health Department’s figures took population into account. “Western Australia’s population has grown by over 17 per cent since since 2016 so we’ve seen people come in from other parts of the world, other parts of Australia,” he said. “You have seen a significant increase in the introduction of vapes, so they all represent risks to our overall preventative health framework. “You have seen a 2 per cent increase in smoking rates, that’s disappointing. But it doesn’t dampen our appetite and our ambition to make sure that we continue to drive those incidents of tobacco consumption in WA down as low as possible. Sorry, but I wanted to get that out.” Later that day shadow police minister Adam Hort slammed the Premier for attributing the rise in smoking to immigration. “The Premier can smudge the numbers as much as he likes, at the end of the day we have illegal tobacco right throughout Western Australia,” he said. Mr Cook was also grilled on whether Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton’s smoking habits set a bad example, but deflected to criticising the Opposition — who have not publicly commented on the matter — for getting personal. “This is a pathetic personal attack, and really just underscores how difficult addiction is, particularly to nicotine, one of the most addictive drugs,” he said. “Can I just say I’ve worked with presidents of the AMA who were smokers, that doesn’t mean you cannot take a role in promoting healthy lives, but the personal attacks on the Minister, I think, are just pathetic.” Mr Hort said no one in his party had made comment on it, and declined to be drawn in to the conversation himself. “I’m not aware of anyone commenting on the personal decisions of the preventative health minister,” he said. “It’s certainly not something I’m going to comment on here today. If they want to smoke, it’s up to them.” Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas put the pressure on the Government to take faster action. “It’s clear that after nine years of Labor, their eye has not been on the ball, there shouldn’t be increases (in smoking rates),” he said. “I note that in every other state jurisdiction, it (illicit tobacco) has been cracked down on, why hasn’t it been cracked down on here? What has this State Government been doing?” Speaking on the potential tobacco laws Mr Whitby said the laws were a priority but would take time. “Legislation, you can’t write it on the back of a pizza box, you have to get it right,” he said. “We’re in the good position of being able to pick the eyeteeth, cherry pick the very best around the country, so that’s what we’re doing.” Current first offence penalties for those caught selling tobacco illegally sit at $10,000 for an individual or $40,000 for a company. Since June, South Australian authorities have had the ability to close illicit tobacco shops for up to 28 days through an initial order and six months through courts. Last month the Queensland Government introduced a bill to parliament giving police the power to shut down illegal traders for three months on the spot and courts the same ability for 12 months. Both also carried fines far greater than in Western Australia.