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April 8th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda The West Australian government is being soft on shopkeepers who sell cigarettes to children and must prosecute the worst offenders to deter others, the state opposition says.
No outlet in WA has been fined for the practice in the past five years, with stores caught in undercover sting operations receiving warning letters only.
Figures show 39 per cent of 562 WA outlets hit by health department stings last year had sold cigarettes to minors posing as adults.
Health Minister Kim Hames has told parliament he could not adequately explain why the stores had been let off without fines but said he was uncomfortable with entrapping people.
Labor Leader Mark McGowan told reporters on Sunday that the lack of prosecutions was disturbing and there needed to be a crackdown on those who sold cigarettes to children.
“Can there be anything more serious in our society (than) allowing young people to get involved in something that could damage their health for the rest of their life?”
Mr McGowan said laws were in place for the health department or police to enforce but there was a lack of political will and courage to do anything.
“What we’re dealing with here is children who are being exposed to something harmful and a government that is doing nothing about it, and I think it’s time for some action to be taken.”
Mr McGowan said the worst offenders should be prosecuted to send a message to other retailers that the practice was not acceptable.
“I think a couple of well-placed prosecutions would send a tremor through the industry and we would see it stop.”
Mr Hames has said he would look into how other states targeted cigarette sales to minors.
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