Extract from ABC News
Tough new smoking laws passed last May have allowed Queensland Health to seize over 42,000 vapes and almost five million illicit cigarettes, according to the state government.
When added to raids made by other agencies, the total number seized during 2023-24 surged to almost 150,000 vapes and more than 15 million illicit cigarettes.
Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman released the figures on Sunday as she challenged state Liberal leader David Crisafulli to back the federal government's plans for even stronger laws.
"I am calling on David Crisafulli today to pick up the phone to [Liberal leader] Peter Dutton and urge him to support Labor's strong crackdown on vapes," Ms Fentiman said.
"Because together we have the opportunity for the next generation of Queenslanders to have far better public health outcomes as a result."
More Australian are vaping more than ever before. According to national figures, one in five people aged 14 and over had used e-cigarettes at least once. Of those, 7% were using them at least daily, according to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler had repeatedly accused Big Tobacco of misrepresenting vaping as a therapeutic product for addicted smokers.
"This is a really serious public health menace that is deliberately designed to recruit a new generation to nicotine addiction, and the tragedy is it's working," he told the ABC last week.
Debate over bans
Vapes containing nicotine can only be supplied in Australia with a prescription.
Since the start of this year, it's been illegal to import disposable or single-use vapes, which typically come in sweet flavours wrapped in bright packaging to appeal to teenagers.
The federal government's also seeking to ban the manufacture, supply, advertising and commercial possession of disposable vapes within Australia.
But political rivals have expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of outright bans.
The National Party and the Greens were not convinced that prohibition was the way forward, and Mr Dutton argued that Australia should treat vaping "the same as tobacco," with regulations.
In Queensland, opposition leader Mr Crisafulli said he wasn't convinced the current deterrents were working.
"Every time an illegal tobacco store pops up, that's one more link to organised crime, that's one more legal family business that gets put under pressure," he said on Sunday.
"I'm not convinced the laws in place are an effective deterrent at the moment against those illegal tobacco and vape stores that are running riot through those weak laws."
Last May, the state government gave Queensland Health greater enforcement power to seize and fine retailers for possessing or selling illicit tobacco.
Since then, health authorities have issued almost 500 infringement notices – including 140 issued this year – more than double the number issued from 2019 to 2022.
New Zealand and the United Kingdom have also moved to stamp out vaping as a priority for public health.
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