The gap between political rhetoric and grim reality in Western Australia's war on illicit tobacco has never been wider. Premier Roger Cook's promise to get tough has been met with the stark, charred response of another deliberately lit fire at a suburban tobacconist, highlighting a crisis of enforcement and political will.
Promises Go Up in Smoke
In the early hours of Wednesday, 14 January 2026, the Ashtar tobacconist in Huntingdale was gutted by fire. This was not an isolated incident, but part of a dangerous pattern of arson attacks targeting tobacco retailers. The blaze erupted less than a day after Premier Cook emerged to promise "incredibly strong" new laws designed to stamp out the criminal trade.
His commitment, however, was immediately tempered by a classic bureaucratic qualification. The Premier sighed that the legislation was simply too "complex", asking for public patience. For business owners and residents living in fear, this explanation feels like an excuse for profound inaction.
A Collapse in Enforcement
The data reveals a staggering drop in government activity coinciding with a rise in criminal bravado. In 2025, a year marked by ram raids and arson attacks, Health Department inspectors conducted a mere 904 compliance checks on retailers. This figure represents the lowest number in three years, signalling a clear winding down of enforcement as criminal activity ramped up.
This sluggishness is systemic. A "high-level meeting" involving Mr Cook, Police Minister Reece Whitby, and senior officials was held in August to discuss tougher penalties. Five months later, no tangible action has followed, leaving police and the public to deal with the escalating "low-level" violence.
Leadership Vacuum and Human Cost
The Premier's current stance marks a dramatic shift from his earlier zeal. As Health Minister in May 2020, Roger Cook crusaded against smoking, demanding full disclosure of ingredients and vowing to prevent a "new generation of smokers". Today, as Premier, he presides over rising smoking rates and an enforcement regime in collapse.
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas delivered a blunt assessment: "Mate, do your job." Shadow police minister Adam Hort was equally scathing, noting the current laws "can’t even crush a coke can", let alone a sophisticated crime syndicate.
The true complexity, as the article notes, is not in drafting legislation. It is in consoling the families of innocent bystanders—a baker trapped by smoke from a neighbouring fire, or a security guard hit by a stray bullet. The perpetrators are not masterminds but reckless individuals, and the government's paralysis directly increases the risk of tragic loss of life.
While Queensland and South Australia passed laws last year allowing police to instantly shut down rogue retailers, WA remains stuck in a cycle of meetings and drafting. The Premier's plea to "get it right" is wearing thin, as the cost of delay is measured in burnt-out shops, terrorised communities, and a growing public health disaster.
