OCTOBER 2, 2006

Australia stubs out tobacco

A total ban on tobacco advertising and sponsorship came into force in Australia on October 1. With immediate effect the Australian Health Minister no longer has the discretion to grant international and cultural sporting events an exemption from the country's tobacco advertising prohibition laws. The original tobacco ban came into force as long ago as 1992 but the discretionary power left the Grand Prix able to exploit tobacco sponsorship. The Australian MotoGP was brought forward a month this year to get under the wire.