The Wire

Rick Norton is from the Laynhapuy Homeland Association, the region’s only wholesaler of kava. Until recently, the Association could import kava from Fiji to Australia, but the Federal Government put a stop to that overnight. The Association says the bans have meant that millions of dollars set aside for valuable community projects that came from kava profits are now wasted, and communities have been left with half-finished buildings and half-baked plans. They also say the health effects of the drug have not been scientifically proven to be damaging.