The Western Australia government has announced a major crackdown on illegal tobacco and vape products through proposed legislation aimed at toughening existing laws. These new laws, to be introduced in state parliament, will empower authorities to shut down retail stores for up to 90 days if they're found in violation of these regulations. This initiative comes as part of the government's commitment to tightening enforcement around the illegal tobacco and vape trade in the region.

A significant aspect of the proposed laws is the enhanced penalties for those found in possession of commercial quantities of illicit tobacco and vaping products. The maximum penalty for such offenses would rise to as much as 15 years in prison, in addition to imposing fines that could reach $4.2 million for individual offenders and up to $21 million for corporate entities. This move is poised to position Western Australia as one of the states with the harshest penalties against illegal tobacco trade in the country, indicating a serious commitment to tackling this issue.

Looking ahead, further amendments to the legislation are anticipated, which may include even stricter licensing requirements and extended store closure periods of up to one year. While no specific timeline has been set for these changes, the government's actions follow months of pressure from the opposition to adopt more effective reforms akin to those seen in other Australian states. Appointing a senior WA Police officer to oversee this initiative underscores the emphasis on stronger enforcement of tobacco laws across the state, aiming for a significant impact on public health and law enforcement effectiveness in this area.