Australia once again a world leader in tobacco control

VicHealth welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement of new legislation to reduce harm from tobacco and e-cigarettes and protect Australians from the predatory tactics of Big Tobacco.

With smoking remaining the leading preventable cause of death and disability in Australia, the comprehensive suite of measures will once again make Australia a world leader in tobacco control.

VicHealth supports the proposed 11 new measures to protect Australians from harm caused by tobacco including:

• warning labels on individual cigarettes

• standardising the size of tobacco packets and products

• new requirements for pack and pouch sizes to make roll-your-own tobacco less affordable and appealing, particularly to young people

• closing current loopholes that have allowed the tobacco industry to promote and market their products.

VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said the new reforms will close loopholes that the tobacco industry has consistently exploited to sell their products.

“Australia is once again leading the way with our tobacco control measures. It’s heartening to see decisive action to clamp down on the manipulative tactics the industry is using to sell and market cigarettes,” he said.

“These groundbreaking reforms put the health of our community above the profits of Big Tobacco. I applaud the Australian Government’s commitment to protect Australians from the dangers of these toxic and addictive products.”

Dr Demaio also welcomed the Government’s announcement of new measures to reduce harms from vaping, including regulating advertising of e-cigarettes and a public consultation on vaping.

“We know an alarming number of young people are addicted to e-cigarettes. We welcome the Australian Government’s leadership in taking action to regulate advertising and initiate this consultation process.

“We call on the Government to take an expedited process with urgency that reflects the speed and scale of the vaping crisis unfolding among young Australians.”

VicHealth is calling on the consultation to focus on actions to protect young people, including;

• stopping the importation of all e-cigarette products unless bound for smokers with a prescription or pharmacy wholesalers

• banning the supply of all e-cigarette products at the national level (regardless of whether they contain nicotine), except by pharmacies to smokers with a prescription

• taking stronger action at the Australian border to stop the flood of nicotine e-cigarette products entering the country

• providing stronger regulations on advertising of e-cigarettes in line with tobacco products through inclusion in the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act.

Dr Demaio commended the Australian Government’s leadership in the face of a significant and growing impending public health challenge.

"This is our opportunity to reduce the burden of nicotine addiction for future generations.”

ENDS

Contact: James Lindsey, PR Lead: 0400 714 187