Torched bars, ‘tax-free’ booze and the $180m loophole: Canberra cash under scrutiny in hunt for firebombing motive
Federal and state police are investigating whether a series of firebombings at Melbourne nightspots may be linked to a $180 million annual tax break intended for craft distillers but potentially being exploited. Authorities are examining if organised crime has infiltrated the alcohol industry through loopholes allowing tax-free liquor production and distribution. The probe, part of a new taskforce called Operation Eclipse, includes scrutiny of black-market alcohol operations and potential links to recent attacks on bars and a liquor warehouse.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.
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