The South Australian Government has issued two more retail outlets with 28-day closure orders as part of its continued action against illicit tobacco and vape sellers in the State.
Freechoice (pictured) Parafield Gardens on Martins Rd and TJs Takeaway on Carlisle St, Ethelton were closed down by Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs, Andrea Michaels, this week.
It follows the closure of five stores by the Minister in Adelaide’s CBD last week.
“South Australia continues to lead the nation in our fight against illicit tobacco and vapes,” said Minister Michaels.
“These stores pose significant risks to community safety and will not be tolerated in South Australia.
“Anyone selling illicit tobacco and vapes in South Australia is on notice that you will be caught and closed down,’ she said.
Under SA Government reforms, it is an offence to knowingly allow a premises to be used to sell illicit tobacco and vapes with penalties of up to $20,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a body corporate and we have empowered landlords to be able to terminate leases for shops subject to long term closure orders.
The Minister said the Government has been relentless in its efforts to crack down on the sale of illicit tobacco and vapes, with more than $34 million worth of product seized since 1 July last year.
The Government has also conducted more than 500 inspections and issued 44 short-term closure orders since those initial powers came into effect on 13 December.
Those penalties were strengthened on 5 June with the addition of 28-day closures.
Any business who violates such an order can be hit with a penalty of up to $1.1 million and an individual up to $700,000.
At the same time, new penalties of up to $6.6 million for supplying or possessing ‘commercial’ and ‘large commercial’ quantities of illicit tobacco came into effect.
