All articles written by Ruth Canty unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to ruth. canty@flinders.edu.au
In a move that shocked the Australian public health community, on 4 May 2026 Philip Morris was permitted to give evidence in secret at a Senate inquiry into the illicit tobacco trade in Australia. They had not been listed on the schedule of witnesses. The incident undermines more than 15 years of precedent in Australia protecting public health from tobacco industry interference and Australia’s obligations under article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).