The federal Minister for Health, Dr Michael Wooldridge, has announced that the move will strengthen a ban which has applied to domestic events since 1992.
Among the events to be hit by the extension are the Australian formula one Grand Prix, at Albert Park, and the Australian motorcycle Grand Prix, at Phillip Island. The two grands prix, like the Australian Indy Car Championship, Rally Australia and the Ladies Masters Golf Tournament, now have eight years to find alternative sponsorship.
The tobacco industry contributes about A$500million to formula one motor racing each year, and the most intense arguments over sponsorship have concerned the Albert Park race. The amount it receives from tobacco companies is not disclosed, but, since the Grand Prix ran up a $1.8million loss last year, its organisers will presumably be concerned by the prospect of their available capital shrinking further. The same anxieties, however, were once felt by cricket and rugby league administrators, and both these sports continue to flourish without tobacco sponsors.
