A popular convenience store in inner-Sydney has been temporarily shut down by authorities over the illegal sale of tobacco. A partially-torn closure order posted outside Redfern Convenience Store states the premises will be closed for 90 days, from April 28 until July 26.
'It is an offence for a person to interfere with a closure order posted at the premises. A maximum penalty of up to $11,000 applies,' the NSW Health notice states. A spokeswoman confirmed to Daily Mail that the department issued short-term closure orders for two Redfern locations on Tuesday for selling illicit tobacco, and they will be listed on the closure orders register later this week.
Redfern Convenience Store is currently listed online as temporarily closed. Its sister stores in Glebe and Newtown remain open. Tougher powers passed by the NSW government last November allow the department to take immediate action against businesses engaged in the illicit tobacco and illegal vape trade or caught selling tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products without a valid licence.
'Once a closure order is issued, it will be an offence to sell any products from the premises for the period of the closure order, and no-one will be able to enter the premises, except those people with an exemption or with a reasonable excuse,' the NSW Health website states. 'There will be significant penalties for continuing to sell product from a premises subject to a closure order or for entering the closed premises without a reasonable excuse or exemption.'
NSW Health has issued 214 closure orders since the new laws came into effect in November. Daily Mail contacted Redfern Convenience Store for comment. The setback came just days after store owner Hazem Sedda celebrated 25 years of business in Redfern. 'Challenges? We welcome them,' his social media post read. 'Pressure? We grow from it. Because every obstacle is just another opportunity to prove who we are.'
Marketed as a store that 'brings people together', the Redfern premises has attracted a cult following with its diverse range of international snacks and treats that are otherwise hard to find in Australia. It also stocks drug purity testing kits. Previous customers include ABC presenter Annabel Crabb, US singer Slayyyter and Australian DJ duo Peking Duk.
The son of Palestinian immigrants, Mr Sedda took over the shop from his dad, who fled to Sydney for a better life more than two decades ago. He sparked public backlash in 2024 when he posted a confronting photo of more than 50 Palestinians 'massacred by Israeli killers' in Gaza online. 'These people were waiting for aid to come in so they can get something to feed their children,' he wrote. 'God Help them. I pray to God on the first Friday of Ramadan to destroy Israel and rid the world of Zionists because they are the cause of the suffering of the Palestinian people.' The post was condemned by the Australian Jewish Association, which was among those to celebrate the store's closure on Wednesday. 'Anyone surprised?' it captioned a photo of the closure order.
