The May budget is set to bring a range of measures to tackle the health emergency of thousands of teenagers who have gone nuts for e-cigarettes. In a bid to reduce the number of young people using e-cigarettes, the government is proposing a crackdown on the importation of vapes, plain-packaging and a ban on flavours.
Health Minister Mark Butler slammed the claim that most vapes being sold to kids do not contain nicotine as “utter horse-s**t”, warning that the insidious product was creating a new generation of addicts and was the “biggest behavioural issue” in schools. He asserted that the strongest possible action had to be taken.
Mr Butler stated that, despite current laws requiring a prescription from a chemist to purchase vapes that contain nicotine, thousands of convenience stores and online providers have been selling them to kids. He further stated that further details concerning the crackdown on this activity would be announced in the coming weeks.
“The only way for vapes to enter the country is through a therapeutic pathway managed by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, for which the manufacture and import are both prohibited,” he said.
“After obtaining the TGA report, a bigger query has arisen in regards to taking steps to stop non-therapeutic use of vapes. Greg Hunt attempted to implement such a measure, but he was overruled within ten days by his party.”
