Young Liberals call for reform of vaping laws

The Young Liberal Movement of Australia today has called upon the Albanese Government to reform vaping laws in Australia.

In its submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration consultation process on Proposed reforms to the regulation of nicotine vaping products, the Young Liberals said that vaping regulation should mirror that of other adult consumer products such as cigarettes.

The Young Liberals submission to the consultation process, which ends today, highlighted that nicotine vaping products, or vapes, have been shown to be up to 95% safer than smoking.

Studies have also shown that vaping is an effective form of quitting smoking, and that combined with support, can be up to twice as likely to help people quit as those who use other nicotine replacement products, such as patches or gum.

Clark Cooley, Federal President of the Young Liberals said, “More than a million Australians use vapes, and current laws are ineffective and are a risk to the health and welfare of users. We need new laws that protect vapers and help those people who are looking for healthier alternatives to smoking.”

Mr Cooley continued, “Australia’s current laws create a black market of illegal, foreign sourced products that put users at risk. These markets have zero oversight and do not comply with strict laws that regulate other nicotine products, such as cigarettes, this includes the exclusion of selling these products to children.”

Mr Cooley concluded, “Consumption of any product that contains nicotine is harmful, however the use of vaping is a safter alternative to smoking cigarettes. Across the world, other nations are using vaping as an effective path to minimise the health risks of nicotine use, yet Australia’s prohibition model continues to have the support of Government.”

Read the full submission here.

ENDS

The Young Liberal Movement is the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Australia, open to anyone aged between 16 and 31 years. Our Movement is a centre-right, mainstream political organisation with a political philosophy focussed on limited government power, low taxes, individual responsibility, a focus on the family and a strong belief in rewarding initiative and private enterprise.