Burleigh Tobacconist shut down as part of Queensland Health crackdown

Queensland Health has shutdown a Gold Coast smoke shop as part of a new crackdown on illegal tobacco and vapes.

An “interim closure” sign was posted to the front door of the Burleigh Tobacconist premises in James St at Burleigh Heads this week.

A Gold Coast smoke shop has been ordered shut by Queensland Health as part of a new crackdown on illegal tobacco and vapes.

An “interim closure” sign was posted to the front door of the Burleigh Tobacconist premises in James St at Burleigh Heads this week.

Burleigh local, former top cop turned Bond University criminologist Terry Goldsworthy, on Thursday posted a pic of the sign to X (formerly Twitter), commenting: “The illicit tobacco wars hit Burleigh, local tobacco shop ordered closed by Health Department”.

It’s the latest in a string of tobacconists across the state to be hit with three-day closure orders under tough new illegal tobacco and vaping laws.

An “interim closure” sign was posted to the front door of the Burleigh Tobacconist premises in James St at Burleigh Heads this week.

The sign reads that the Queensland Health chief executive “reasonably suspects … illicit tobacco or illicit nicotine products have been, or are likely to be, supplied at the premises as part of a business activity”.

“THIS PREMISES IS CLOSED,” it advises, adding that it was an offence to supply smoking products at the premises or work there during the closure period.

The tobacconist and Queensland Health have been contacted for comment.

New laws that came into force last year allow authorities to shut down tobacconists for up to six months for selling illicit tobacco or vape products.

Retailers can face up to two years’ jail, with maximum fines of $322,600 for individuals and $1.6m for corporations.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said Gold Coast Public Health Unit officers had taken “swift action against a retailer which has a history of non-compliance”.

“This closure follows multiple enforcement actions against the business including a court prosecution resulting in a $15,000 fine,” she said.

The spokeswoman said 19 three-day closure orders had been imposed on 19 retailers across the state since the new laws came into force last year, but this was the first one on the Gold Coast.

“Queensland takes a zero-tolerance approach to the supply of illegal vaping and tobacco products,” she said.

“Our strict illicit tobacco laws, backed by harsh penalties and enforcement action, are helping to effectively stop the sale of millions of illegal tobacco and vaping products throughout the state.

“Queensland Health continues to monitor businesses closely and strongly encourages Queenslanders to report any suspicious sale of illegal tobacco and nicotine products.”