Relaxing Vape Laws: The Greens and Nationals Support New Regulatory Regime in Australia
The state party of New South Wales (NSW) has recently proposed a plan to regulate vaping. The Greens has long supported harm reduction strategies, and they are fully aware that Australia’s smoking rates are higher than those found in other parts of the world where vaping is endorsed. The Nationals, one of the current opposition parties, have also voiced their support for vaping.
Australia’s current regulations are failing. Nationals leader David Littleproud has said that vaping in schools is increasing, and former health minister Greg Hunt’s prescription model has failed. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also admitted that the current tobacco control plan is not working. To address this issue, the Nationals are in support of a new regulatory regime that would relax current vape laws and make the products more accessible to adult smokers wishing to use them to quit.
Despite facing opposition from some health experts, Littleproud underlined the need to protect children and the need to quickly look at regulatory models that have worked. Prohibition has always failed, and countless studies have confirmed this. Experts keep highlighting that prohibition does not work, and tobacco harm reduction advocates in California are warning that a vape flavor ban proposed for the state would never work.
In this article, we will discuss why Australia’s opposition party believes in relaxing vape laws and what this means for the future of vaping in Australia.
The Greens and The Nationals support vaping
The Greens has long supported harm reduction strategies, including the use of e-cigarettes. They are fully aware that smoking rates in Australia are higher than in other parts of the world where vaping is endorsed. Recently, the Greens Tasmania also voiced their support for vaping.
Similarly, the Nationals, one of the current opposition parties, have voiced their support for vaping. Nationals leader David Littleproud has said that vaping in schools is increasing, and former health minister Greg Hunt’s prescription model has failed. The TGA has also admitted that the current tobacco control plan is not working. To address this issue, the Nationals are in support of a new regulatory regime that would relax current vape laws and make the products more accessible to adult smokers wishing to use them to quit.
Australia’s current regulations are failing
Despite existing measures, vaping in schools is on the increase, and clearly, the prescription model has failed. The TGA has recently admitted that the current tobacco control plan in place is not working. This has prompted the Nationals to call for a new regulatory regime that would relax current vape laws and make the products more accessible to adult smokers wishing to use them to quit.
Currently, vapes are less accessible than traditional cigarettes, which is ironic given that they are a safer alternative. To address this issue, the Nationals are in support of a new regulatory regime that would relax current vape laws and make the products more accessible to adult smokers wishing to use them to quit.
Protecting children and regulatory models that work
Littleproud has said that they are facing opposition by several health experts on this, however, they will be advocating for the policy again. “We’ve got to protect children, we’ve got to protect them quickly and look at the regulatory models that have worked and be big enough to admit when we’ve got it wrong,” he said, clearly underlining the fact that besides adult smokers, the restrictions are also failing minors.
Prohibition has always failed. Countless studies have confirmed this. Across the ocean in California, tobacco harm reduction advocates are highlighting that a vape flavor ban proposed for the state would never work. The ban will just push Californians back towards unflavored tobacco products, namely cigarettes.
Conclusion
The Greens and The Nationals in Australia have voiced their support for vaping, and the failure of Australia’s current regulations has prompted the Nationals to call for a new regulatory regime that would relax current vape laws and make the products more accessible to adult smokers wishing to use them to quit. While they are facing opposition from some health experts, they are committed to protecting children and looking at regulatory models that have worked.
Prohibition has always failed, and countless studies have confirmed this. It is important to note that smoking rates in Australia are higher than those found in other parts of the world where vaping is endorsed. The Greens and The Nationals believe that harm reduction strategies, including the use of e-cigarettes, can help reduce these rates.
It remains to be seen whether Australia will relax its current vape laws, but with the support of opposition parties and the failure of current regulations, it is clear that change is needed.
FAQs
- What is the state party of NSW’s plan to regulate vaping?
The state party of NSW has recently proposed a plan to regulate vaping.
- Which political parties in Australia support vaping?
The Greens and The Nationals in Australia have voiced their support for vaping.
- Why are Australia’s current regulations failing?
Despite existing measures, vaping in schools is on the increase, and the prescription model has failed. The TGA has recently admitted that the current tobacco control plan in place is not working.
- What is the Nationals’ proposal for a new regulatory regime?
The Nationals are in support of a new regulatory regime that would relax current vape laws and make the products more accessible to adult smokers wishing to use them to quit.
- Why is prohibition not effective in reducing smoking rates?
Prohibition has always failed, and countless studies have confirmed this. Tobacco harm reduction advocates in California are warning that a vape flavor ban proposed for the state would never work. The ban will just push Californians back towards unflavored tobacco products, namely cigarettes.
