The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has expressed its dismay at new regulations that came into force in WA this week.
According to Mirage News, the ARA says the regulations will “significantly affect tobacco retailing across the state”.
ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman claims the ARA found out about the changes late last Wednesday night. He says retailers will have to reduce their price boards from 1sqm to A4 size. They’ll also have to place new graphics beside them.
“Our members will always comply with new regulations,” he said. “However, they require reasonable time frames to make changes.”
Mr Zimmerman called the changes “poorly managed” and said they were rolling out “without proper consultation and notification”.
“Retailers across the state are waking up to the news this morning,” he said. “They have just a few days to implement the changes. They’re scratching their heads as to why they weren’t consulted or advised of the changes through proper process.”
All is not fine
The ARA has written to Roger Cook MLA, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, urgently requesting clarification. The ARA’s goal, it says, is to ensure retailers don’t receive non-compliant notices and “unnecessary fines” from Monday. It also pointed out that nobody yet knows what those fines might be.
“It’s beyond my comprehension how significant changes of this nature can be passed without any consultation,” Mr Zimmerman concluded. “I don’t see what the purpose of reducing price boards are, and how this can be justified in the realms of good public policy.”
