By Renee Heath MP | 14 May 2025
In August 2021, Jim Gregory’s beloved Centre Court Book Exchange in Pakenham went up in flames. Destroyed by a petrol bomb targeting a neighbouring tobacconist.
The bookstore became one of the earliest casualties of Victoria’s explosive illicit tobacco war. Four of the five attackers arrested—aged just 18 to 25—were already out on bail. It was a warning sign of what was to come: justice failing, criminals walking free, and violence escalating unchecked.
Four years later, this attack has become a tragic metaphor for a state government that hasn’t just ignored crime—it’s practically invited it—creating the perfect environment for criminals to thrive.
To date, these wars have resulted in 120 fire bombings statewide or two attacks per week, as competing rival gangs that are left to fight to divvy up the spoils of this deadly turf war and carve out “safe zones”.
And yet, while the government assured us it was doing all it could, it was a war they never really fought.
Politicians fixate on tax hikes and licensing, but these simplify a far more complex problem, allowing the deeper root causes to grow unchecked.
During COVID-19, the state endured 262 days of lockdowns and brutally enforced curfews all without supporting evidence. It was willing to destroy the state’s economy, mental health and civil liberties in the phantom pursuit of zero cases.
The contrast could not be starker. As petrol bombs rained down, storefronts burned, and businesses and the community cowered in fear, our government raises the white flag. Instead of mounting a strategic and persistent response, Labor offered empty words, half-baked legislation, and token resources.
Despite repeated official warnings, Victoria’s illicit tobacco trade, now a $6 billion black market, was left virtually untouched as this trade brazenly operated in plain sight. Instead of dismantling this lucrative criminal enterprise, the government handed down bills riddled with glaring loopholes—not by accident, but by legislative design.
Last year, at a time when Youth crime soared reached a 15-year peak –including a 65% increase in crimes committed by children aged 10–11—the government passed the deeply flawed Youth Justice Bill. It raised the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12. As a result, crimes by 11-year-olds, including arson, theft, and violent assaults, are effectively invisible to law enforcement. There’s no question that criminal gangs will keep recruiting children and exploiting these legal loopholes to continue the practice of paying them little as $5 for every cigarette pack or $500 an attack.
Next came the introduction of the so-called Tobacco Licensing Scheme. It was hailed as a crackdown on illegal store tobacco operators by requiring licensing, but it instead handed a gift to criminal syndicates. Gapping loopholes mean vapes are exempted completely, creating another thriving illegal market. While enforcement is delayed until 2026, granting gangs an entire year to stockpile illicit cigarettes without oversight. Furthermore, just 14 inspectors are expected to monitor the states 1,300 tobacco stores, a monumental task destined for failure.
Added to that, there is no effective mechanism preventing these highly sophisticated organised global criminal syndicates from using clean-skin front groups to obtain legal retail licences.
Earlier this year, Labor’s broadcast its criminal legislative centrepiece, the “Toughest Bail Laws” Bill. But yet again it was a knee jerk reaction to continued shocking revelations including a teenager with 388 charges that was granted bail over 50 times and, in a tragic incident that stunned the state, two 16-year-olds while on bail senselessly stabbing and killing Traralgon GP Dr Ashley Gordon.
Scratch beneath the surface and the only thing tough about this bill is its title.
In fact, the laws are actually weaker than before – kicking real accountability further down the road.
These are not isolated failures. They are interlinked policy decisions forming a deliberate pattern of neglect. Each failure feeds into the next: delayed tobacco enforcement leads to black market growth, legislative loopholes invite exploitation and weakened bail laws enable repeat offenders to escape accountability repeatedly.
In response to this escalating crisis, the Liberal-National Party has introduced the “Break Bail, Face Jail” policy, aiming to restore real accountability and community safety:
- Reinstate bail breaches and indictable offences while on bail as Schedule 2 crimes.
- Remove youth exemptions for bail breaches, ensuring young offenders face genuine consequences.
- Add robbery and burglary to Schedule 2, triggering tougher bail tests for these serious offences.
Jim Gregory’s bookshop was not just a victim of criminal violence—it was a victim of legislative negligence. His attackers were free because a broken system chose headlines over justice and loopholes over accountability.
Victorians deserve real protection—not hollow promises. The “Break Bail, Face Jail” policy offers clear, effective reforms to protect the public, close loopholes, hold real criminals accountable and give our children hope beyond enriching criminals. The alternative is clear: lawlessness that breeds continued chaos, escalating violence and more innocent business owners and victims.
Renee Heath MP | Member for Eastern Victoria Region | Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs | Shadow Assistant Minister for Family Violence
