For the residents of the Kiama local government area who are concerned with the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, the NSW Government is introducing greater legislation with tough new measures for tobacconists and businesses caught selling illegal products.

With greater power for law enforcers and inspectors, the amendments appear to be on track to provide the community with the assurances they need.

“These will be among the toughest penalties in the country and will send a clear message to bad actors that illegal tobacco and vaping goods will not be tolerated in NSW,” Minster for Health Ryan Park said in a statement.

This announcement from the government comes on the back of a suspected arson attack on a tobacconist in nearby Corrimal on Sunday evening, which authorities are treating as suspicious.

Speaking to ABC Illawarra on Monday morning, Park conceded the issue of illegal tobacco sales was a growing concern.

“We need to make sure that we’re continually looking at the fines and prison sentences and increasing those and what the government’s proposed to do,” he said.

“It has got ahead of the community; it has got ahead of politicians. We need to pull it back.

“I know local residents in my own neck of the woods down there are sick and tired of these shops popping up and this is a big concern.

“When there is an element of criminality involved with them, that increases the risk to law abiding citizens who are simply going about their business.”

The NSW Government has also established a cross-agency NSW Illicit Tobacco Taskforce with the agency drawing on the expertise of various departments senior representatives to develop options and recommendations.

These departments include NSW Health, NSW Police, the Department of Customer Service, the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport, and the Department of Communities and Justice.

In the first six months of 2025, NSW Health conducted over 700 retailer inspections, seizing over 90,000 vapes, 6 million cigarettes and 1100 kg of other illicit tobacco products with a combined estimated street value of around $10 million.

“We are disrupting the business model of the large-scale criminals who profit from addiction, tax evasion, and putting young people at risk,” Park added.

“We understand the community’s frustration at the growth of the illicit tobacco market.”

Part of the legislation amendments is the implementation of a new offence for the commercial possession and sale of illicit tobacco with a maximum penalty of over $1.5 million and a seven-year jail term for each.

There is also the introduction of short-term (up to 90 days) and long-term (up to 12 months) closure orders for premises selling illicit tobacco, illegal vaping goods, or selling tobacco without a licence.

Within the Kiama region there are approximately six shops that are solely tobacconists. This does not include shops like convenience stores that sell tobacco

A Kiama Council spokesperson told The Bugle “the policing of illegal tobacco and vaping is the responsibility of the NSW Government”.

“Council does not have a role, or the relevant powers, when it comes to policing illegal trading of tobacco and vaping products.”

To report criminal information, call 1800 333 000 or log on to https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au