Hunter Tobacconist Shut Again for Defying NSW Health Closure Orders
A Hunter tobacconist has been forcibly closed for the second time in just three weeks after blatantly breaching stringent NSW Health closure orders. The Maitland & Rutherford Tobacconist, located at North Mall in Rutherford, was found operating despite a directive to shut down issued on January 28.
This action follows a prior report by the Newcastle Herald, which exposed the store's continued operations in defiance of the initial closure notice. A statement from NSW Health confirmed that the retailer was "found to be in breach of its 90-day closure order for selling illicit tobacco and vapes".
Massive Seizure of Illegal Goods
NSW Health Inspectors, supported by police officers, conducted an inspection after receiving reports of non-compliance with the three-month closure order. During the raid, authorities confiscated a substantial haul of illegal products, including:
- More than 280,000 illicit cigarettes
- Almost 38 kilograms of loose leaf tobacco
- Over 8,200 vaping devices
The estimated street value of these seized items exceeds $570,000, highlighting the scale of the illicit trade. NSW Health warned that "there is the possibility of significant financial penalties and imprisonment for offences for breaching closure orders", though it remains unclear if the Rutherford store will face additional punishment.
Legal Ramifications and Government Crackdown
The court holds the authority to issue a long-term closure order of up to one year if satisfied that illicit tobacco or illegal vaping goods have been or are likely to be sold. This can also apply if tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products are sold without a valid license. The Rutherford store was originally closed due to the sale of illicit tobacco and operating without a retail license.
Since new laws took effect in November, NSW Health Inspectors and police have closed 66 stores for 90 days each. Among those affected were several Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens outlets, including:
- Belmont Mart
- Charlestown Tobacco Hub
- Ezymart Swansea
- Swansea Tobacconist
- Cignall Nelson Bay
- Tanilba Mart
These six stores were permitted to reopen on February 3 and 4 after their closure orders expired. In a broader effort, the Minns government has introduced additional reforms to combat the supply of illegal tobacco and vapes, featuring:
- A maximum penalty of $1.5 million and seven years' imprisonment for possession or sale of commercial quantities of illicit tobacco
- Lease termination powers for landlords where a closure order is in place
This ongoing crackdown underscores the government's commitment to enforcing health regulations and curbing the illegal tobacco and vaping market in New South Wales.
