Melbourne tobacco arson wave drives insurance denial for neighboring businesses

A surge of firebombings targeting tobacconists in Melbourne, linked to illegal tobacco trade, has led insurers to deny or price out coverage for nearby small businesses, causing collateral revenue and reputational damage. The latest blaze in Richmond destroyed a tobacco retailer and nearly a dozen adjacent shops, requiring 80 firefighters. This marks an escalation in the arson campaign's impact beyond direct targets, signaling a broader economic and security concern.