Tobacco and vapes—Illegal sales
633. Hon Neil Thomson to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I note the minister's answer to my question 587 on 20 August stating there has not been a single fine issued for the illegal sale of vapes in Western Australia since 1 January 2025.
(1) Is the minister aware that vapes are being sold over the counter from more than one retail outlet within a few metres of at least one school in Perth, suggesting this practice is probably repeated across the state?
(2) Can the minister table a list of stores at which her department has observed illegal sales of vapes?
(3) Does the minister's department have any idea of the scale of wholesaling and warehousing of vapes in Western Australia?
(4) If yes to (3), please table this information.
(5) Has the minister's department achieved any convictions on the possession of commercial quantities of vapes since 1 January 2025, noting the maximum penalty is three years imprisonment; and, if not, why not?
Hon Pierre Yang replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided by the Minister for Health.
(1)–(4) The Department of Health is not able to release information collected as part of investigations conducted under state legislations on alleged offences.
(5) Custodial penalties and commercial quantity offences for vapes apply under Commonwealth law.
