Western Australia 's smoking rates have increased for the first time in 30 years.

The new figures are igniting fresh pressure on Premier Roger Cook's government to introduce new laws to crack down on the illegal tobacco trade.

The number of West Australians picking up a cigarette spiked last financial year for the first time in three decades - up from 10 per cent in 2022/23 to 12 per cent.

Experimenting with vapes is also on the rise.

"Currently in Western Australia tobacco is more available than milk, bread, fresh fruit and veggies and it's something we need to urgently address," Libby Jardine from WA Cancer Council said.

Cook blames an increasing population for the increase in smoking rates, saying it's down to "people coming to Western Australia from overseas, in record numbers"

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