Tobacco
‘They’re getting sent a message’: Tobacco war reignites as Kaz Hamad’s ‘Commission’ fights to retain control
There have been more than a dozen arson attacks and two shootings related to illicit tobacco markets since Hamad was arrested in Iraq in mid-January.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
Latest
Police seize five guns, including AK-47, after tobacco shop fire
Officers believe this violence to be part of a wider trend of criminal syndicates looking to fill the vacuum left in the tobacco black market following the arrest of Kazem Hamad.
- Alexander Darling
The inside story of how Australia became one of the most lucrative illicit tobacco markets in the world
An unprecedented look into how and why Australia has been plagued by a war for control of the multibillion-dollar tobacco trade, from Dubai to the streets of our largest cities.
- Chris Vedelago, Marta Pascual Juanola and The Visual Stories Team
‘Something has to change’: Cut cigarette tax or more people will get hurt, says Liberal MP
The government is facing a collapse in tobacco excise – $67 billion in a decade. A Liberal MP says it’s time to cut the tax to undermine the illegal trade in cigarettes.
- Shane Wright
The radical plan to stop illegal tobacco: cut the price of cigarettes
Nine in 10 cigarettes will be illegal by the end of the decade. New research suggests it’s time to slash cigarette taxes and help save the budget.
- Shane Wright
The billion-dollar move crime boss made for Australia’s top illicit cigarette brand
Kazem Hamad’s crime empire secured a major stake in Manchester tobacco company, and with it power over the illicit market from production to street-level sale.
- Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola
- Analysis
- Science
Pushing up the price of heroin cut crime. Why isn’t the same thing happening with tobacco?
A new paper to be published this month uses Australia’s 2001 “heroin drought” as a natural experiment to answer that question. The answer has important things to tell us about our current drug crisis: illegal tobacco.
- Liam Mannix
Business as usual? Tobacco licensing crackdown launches with a whimper
A survey of Melbourne’s tobacco shops reveals dismal compliance with new licensing laws, while only 14 inspectors are tasked with policing the entire state.
- Chris Vedelago and Alexander Darling
- Opinion
- Victorian election
Politicians and the media once united to do good. In this heat, that’s impossible
Politics in Victoria used to be done better. There is no stronger example than the disciplined bipartisanship that helped create VicHealth.
- Chip Le Grand
- Exclusive
- Victorian Parliament
‘Ignorance and stupidity’: Labor luminary slams planned VicHealth closure
The Labor and Liberal figures who secured support for the establishment of the health promotions body have urged the Allan government to abandon plans to scrap it.
- Chip Le Grand