Pharmacy Daily | Coalition vape policy risks youth uptake: PHAA

THE Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) has expressed dismay over the Coalition's plan to raise $3.6 billion in revenue over the next four years from vape taxation.

In its costings document released yesterday, the Coalition confirmed that in a departure from the current legislation, which allows for vapes only to be sold at pharmacies, it would allow vapes to be sold at retail stores.

In doing so, the Coalition said it would tax the products and regulate the industry.

However, a PHAA spokesperson said that the money would only be available "if all of Australia's governments dismantled the protective national regime that was legislated unanimously by federal parliament in 2024, and which has been backed by implementation by every state and territory".

"The protective regime is working - it means fewer young people are starting to vape, and are avoiding nicotine addiction," they said.

"The most disappointing aspect of such a policy proposal is that it would resume the marketing of vaping products to Australian children and young people.

"That will fuel new waves of nicotine addiction, expose millions to serious short- and long-term harms and suffering, and add more pressure on our already over-stretched health system," said thespokesperson.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor told ABC's Afternoon Briefing the policy would not normalise vaping, and denied young people would take it up, thanks to the higher price of vapes.

Rather, he said, the change would "tackle organised crime and render the vape black market obsolete".

"There's already a big vaping tax on Australians by criminal organisations, criminal gangs," Taylor said.

"We would rather have a properly regulated sector with a tax on it from the government which benefits tax payers."

The PHAA said the proposal has no credible evidence behind it, and would "fly in the face of years of research and carefully constructed policy about the best way to protect the community, especially young people, from nicotine".

"We call on all political parties and candidates to reject any suggestion of dismantling Australia's system for protecting young people's health and wellbeing, free from nicotine addiction," they concluded. KB