‘We’re not attacking Council’: Chocolate factory responds to $19K fine

A $19,000 FINE slapped on Junee’s world-famous Licorice and Chocolate Factory has sparked a media storm, with the local council forced to defend its actions following claims the family-run business was penalised over a minor exit signage technicality.

The issue was thrust into the national spotlight on Wednesday morning when factory general manager Rhiannon Druce appeared on Sydney radio station 2GB, telling breakfast host Ben Fordham the business had been hit with the staggering penalty over outdated exit signs.

But Junee Shire Council has since rejected suggestions the fine related solely to signage, revealing a series of significant fire safety breaches and a separate building certification issue.

As the story gained momentum, Ms Druce spoke to the Junee Bulletin on Wednesday afternoon, seeking to defuse tensions and stressing that the factory’s frustrations were directed at Australia’s complex regulatory system, not the local council.

“This isn’t an attack or anger towards our local council,” she said.

“We want to continue to work with them to better tourism in our region but that is not at all at the sacrifice of safety and compliance to our building, staff or visitors.”

‘Talk about overkill’: Fordham blasts fine

The matter first came to public attention when Fordham used his popular breakfast program to highlight what he described as an extraordinary example of government red tape.

“We know Australia is a red tape nation, but this takes it to a whole new level,” he told listeners.

Fordham told listeners the factory, one of the Riverina’s best-known tourist attractions, had been fined after inspectors identified outdated exit signs displaying the word ‘EXIT’ rather than the internationally recognised running-man symbol.

“Because of the minor mix-up, the small family business has been handed a $19,000 fine. Can you believe this?” he said.

The Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory was required to replace approximately 58 traditional ‘EXIT’ signs (left) with the modern running-man symbol (right) as part of fire safety compliance works. | Image: AI-generated illustration

Speaking live on air, Ms Druce described the signage requirements as a technicality triggered by renovations to the historic five-storey flour mill.

“You can have the exit sign apparently in your building, but until you choose to upgrade or renovate that building, it then goes to a new level of compliance where you have to remove the exit sign and change it to the running man,” she explained.

Ms Druce said the factory, housed in a former flour mill dating back to 1935, had been required to replace approximately 58 signs throughout the building.

She claimed Council inspectors had delivered the fine immediately before a public holiday long weekend, in the middle of school holidays, and warned the business could be shut down until it complied.

Ms Druce said the factory was able to negotiate additional time to rectify the issues and engaged tradespeople over the holiday weekend to undertake the necessary work.

“As if small businesses aren’t having a tough enough time,” Ms Druce told Fordham.

“It’s such a small technicality. If we were aware of that law, we would obviously had changed it.

“We’re not trying to threaten anyone’s safety or wellbeing by having the wrong exit sign, we’re just a business trying to sell chocolate.”

Image: Facebook/Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

Fordham questioned why Council had not simply warned the business and allowed it to rectify the issue before imposing a substantial fine.

“Talk about overkill,” he declared, promising to pursue Junee Shire Council for an explanation and invite representatives onto Thursday’s program.

Listen to Wednesday’s full interview below.

Council hits back, reveals broader breaches

But Council has painted a very different picture, revealing the compliance issues extended well beyond emergency exit signage.

In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Council said inspectors had identified significant deficiencies involving fire stairs, emergency exits, fire extinguishers and exit signage.

It also revealed that refurbished sections of the premises had been used without the required Occupation Certificate.

“Contrary to claims that the fines related solely to exit signage, Council identified a number of significant fire safety non-compliances involving fire stairs, emergency exits, fire extinguishers and exit signage,” Council said.

“Council also identified that refurbished areas of the premises were being used without the required Occupation Certificate, representing a separate building compliance matter.”

Council maintained it had worked extensively with the business over the preceding 12 months to resolve the outstanding compliance issues.

“Over the past 12 months, Council has worked extensively with the business owners to resolve these matters through discussions, written correspondence, formal orders and extensions of time,” the statement said.

“Despite repeated opportunities to achieve compliance, significant deficiencies remained outstanding, ultimately necessitating enforcement action.”

Images: Facebook/Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

Council defended its responsibility to enforce fire safety regulations, particularly given the factory’s popularity with tourists and the nature of the historic building.

“The potential consequences of a fire in a historic, predominately timber building without the required fire safety systems in place, would be horrific and Council would also rightly be held responsible for not taking action,” the statement said.

The factory is one of the Riverina’s best-known tourist attractions, drawing thousands of visitors to Junee each year and making a significant contribution to the local economy.

While acknowledging the business’s importance to the region, Council insisted its statutory responsibility to protect public safety could not be overlooked.

“Council has a statutory responsibility to address identified safety risks, particularly where reasonable opportunities to achieve compliance have not resulted in the necessary action.”

Factory owner disputes timeline

Factory owner Neil Druce, meanwhile, has disputed suggestions the business was given 12 months to rectify the exit signage issues.

“The impression that we’ve been given 12 months to resolve these exit sign issues is incorrect,” Mr Druce said.

“As soon as we were made aware of the details of the fire exit compliance we swiftly solved them.”

Mr Druce stressed that visitor safety remained a priority for the family-run business, while highlighting the technical nature of some of the requirements.

“We view the safety and comfort of our visitors as a high priority,” he said.

“The running man icon changes and compliance with the length of a door handle being 20mm too short is something we weren’t aware of.”

Father and daughter duo Neil and Rhiannon Druce | Image: Facebook/Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory

While Council says it spent 12 months working with the factory on broader compliance matters, Mr Druce maintains the specific exit signage requirements were addressed promptly once the business became aware of them.

Council has not publicly detailed when each individual breach was identified or how the $19,000 penalty was apportioned between the various compliance matters.

‘Not an attack on Council’: Factory seeks calm

With the controversy attracting local and national media attention, Ms Druce moved to clarify the factory’s position during a conversation with the Junee Bulletin on Wednesday afternoon.

She emphasised that the business was not seeking a confrontation with Council and remained committed to maintaining a safe environment for its staff and visitors.

“This isn’t an attack or anger towards our local council,” she said.

“We want to continue to work with them to better tourism in our region but that is not at all at the sacrifice of safety and compliance to our building, staff or visitors.”

Ms Druce said the factory had acted swiftly once the exit signage requirements were brought to its attention.

“When we were made aware of the compliance issues with exit signs we swiftly resolved them and are now compliant with safety standards,” she said.

“The issue really does lay with the lack [of] clear guidelines surrounding these laws.”

Rhiannon Druce of the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory speaking at a Nationals press conference in October | File image/Supplied

Ms Druce said the media attention had prompted other business owners to contact the factory, concerned they could also be unknowingly breaching building regulations.

“We’ve had businesses ring us saying they too have exit signs not running man and wanted to know if they’d get in trouble,” she said.

“We’ve had businesses ring with their stories of huge fines for things they weren’t aware were an issue.”

She said the broader concern was the growing regulatory burden on small businesses, rather than any grievance with Junee Shire Council.

“We are one of the most regulated countries in the world so it’s definitely coming at a cost to running a small business and that’s the issue we have, not with our local council.”

Her comments underscore the factory’s position that the dispute is not about avoiding safety obligations, but the difficulty businesses face in navigating complex compliance requirements and understanding when changes to existing buildings trigger new standards.

Safety issues rectified, Council confirms

Despite the differing accounts, Council has confirmed the identified fire safety deficiencies have recently been rectified.

However, it indicated that work remained to ensure all applicable building certification requirements were satisfied.

Council also acknowledged the factory’s importance to Junee’s tourism industry and local economy, describing it as a significant attraction welcoming thousands of visitors annually.

“Ultimately, Council’s objective was never to issue a fine. It was to achieve compliance, protect lives and ensure that everyone visiting this important Junee attraction can do so with confidence,” the statement concluded.

Listen to Ben Fordham’s full segment with Ms Druce below, beginning at 35:15.