Member for Robertson Gordon Reid has accused the former Liberal Federal Government of being “asleep at the wheel” as vaping rates, especially among young Australians, skyrocketed.
Talking-up the Labor Government’s strong stance against the habit, Reid said vaping was creating a whole new generation of nicotine addicts, with vapers three times as likely to take up smoking.
“It poses a major threat to Australia’s success in tobacco control and the Albanese Government is not going to stand by and let this happen,” he said.
“The Government is taking action to reduce smoking and vaping through stronger legislation, enforcement, education and support.
“The May Budget includes $737M to fund a number of measures to protect Australians against the harm caused by tobacco and vaping products, including $63M for a public health information campaign to discourage Australians from taking up vaping and smoking, and $30M invested in support programs to help Australians quit.
“We are also investing $264M in a new national lung cancer screening program.
“The Government will work with states and territories to stamp out the growing black market in illegal vaping.
“We will end the sale of vapes in convenience stores and other retail settings, while also making it easier to get a prescription for legitimate therapeutic use.
“The requirement for a prescription to access a nicotine vape is not new.
“Individuals will still be able to get a prescription if they need one to help them quit, and all doctors will now be allowed to prescribe therapeutic vaping products without needing additional TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) approval.”
Reid said vaping was originally introduced as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit, not a recreational product – especially not one targeted to children.
“Labor has a proud history of implementing world-leading anti-smoking policies including plain packaging laws which have seen a steep reduction in tobacco consumption since 2012,” he said.
“These reform measures will help protect the health of Australians, while reducing the pressure on our health system.
“They will also protect our environment because disposal have been identified as posing potentially serious environmental risks.”