Teal candidate once consulted for British American Tobacco

A ‘teal’ candidate contesting a seat in Sydney’s upper North Shore once worked as a consultant for big tobacco, and published unashamedly pro-vaping content in the local newspaper she edited.

A ‘teal’ candidate contesting a seat in Sydney’s upper North Shore once worked as a consultant for big tobacco, and published unashamedly pro-vaping content in the local newspaper she edited.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that “community independent” candidate Tina Brown, worked as a “Consultant Project Manager” at British American Tobacco, according to a LinkedIn page under her maiden name.

While editor of The Post local newspaper, Ms Brown published a news article accusing the federal government of “vaping misinformation,” in which the journalist said: “the Australian Government is neglecting the benefits of promoting nicotine vaping to adults”.

“Stringent laws that ban vaping are propagated by misinformation regarding its lethality,” the journalist wrote in the November 2022 news article.

The article quoted prominent pro-vaping campaigner Colin Mendelsohn, who in 2023 was published in the newspaper as a “guest writer”.

Mr Mendelsohn’s article was later shared on social media by the Vaping Association of Australia lobby group.

Tina Brown, former editor of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Post, is the teal candidate for Berowra

Ms Brown stood down as editor of The Post when she announced her candidacy, but remains the newspaper’s publisher.

The Telegraph asked Ms Brown’s campaign whether the vaping lobby group paid money to The Post, while Ms Brown was editor, for Mr Mendelsohn’s article to be published.

The Telegraph also asked if she had sought to hide her links to British American Tobacco from voters, and if she stood by the views expressed in a news article she published as editor.

Her campaign did not reply by deadline.

The pro-vaping stance is in stark contrast to Ms Brown’s teal colleagues, who have campaigned against e-cigarettes.

Sophie Scamps, teal MP for nearby Mackellar, has previously spoken in parliament about battling against e-cigarettes and tackling the spread of vaping.

Ms Scamps on Friday would not comment on Ms Brown’s work history.

Tina Brown, former editor of the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Post, is the teal candidate for Berowra

“It is entirely up to a community who they choose as their community’s candidate,” she said.

But state Liberal MP for Davidson Matt Cross, whose electorate overlaps Berowra, said he would be “very concerned” that someone with links to “big tobacco” would try to go into parliament.

“Tobacco kills over 20,000 Australians every year that includes over 8,000 from lung cancer,” he said.

“Smoking and vaping are a scourge on our community.

“I would be very concerned that anyone associated with big tobacco would be seeking to go into parliament.”

According to Health department, “scientists and public health experts are still learning about e-cigarettes (but) they do not consider them safe”.

“many scientists are concerned that vaping could increase risk of lung disease, heart disease and cancer.”

The guidelines state some people have quit smoking using e-cigarettes.

Originally published as Teal candidate once consulted for British American Tobacco