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Why is advocating for tobacco control in Australia still important?
Tobacco still kills 66 Australians. Every. Single. Day.
Australia has made world-leading progress in reducing smoking, but smoking still kills more than 24,000 Australians annually. New products, aggressive marketing, illicit trade and ongoing industry interference continue to threaten public health gains. Strong advocacy is essential to protect effective policies, close regulatory gaps and prevent a new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.
What are e-cigarettes and vapes, and how do they work?
Electronic cigarettes, or vapes, are battery operated devices that heat a liquid (sometimes called “e-liquid”) to produce a vapour that users inhale. They are designed to deliver nicotine and/or other chemicals via an aerosol vapour directly to your lungs. All e-cigarettes have three basic components: a battery, an atomiser and a fluid cartridge. The fluid used in e-cigarettes usually contains propylene glycol, glycerol, nicotine and added flavourings.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
There is no completely safe substance for the human lung to inhale besides clean air. A building body of evidence is showing there are a raft of potential health harms caused by vaping.
Vape aerosols contain toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and ultrafine particles. The long-term effects of vaping are not yet fully known, and evidence is emerging of respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological risks, including documented evidence of adverse effects of nicotine addiction on developing brains (those 25 years and under).
The tobacco industry and its front groups are marketing e-cigarettes as a potentially ‘reduced risk’ alternative to traditional cigarettes. The Federal Department of Health has commissioned a comprehensive review of the evidence in relation to e-cigarettes conducted by the Australian National University. Its interim findings published in 2020 concluded that e-cigarettes pose more harm than benefit to the Australian population.
Can you legally get a vape in Australia?
From October 1, 2024, adults (18+) can purchase low-strength nicotine vapes (20 mg/mL or less) directly from a pharmacy without a prescription. A prescription from an Australian medical or nurse practitioner is required if you are under 18 years old (not permitted even with a prescription in South Australia) and if you need a nicotine concentration higher than 20 mg/mL. In Western Australia and Tasmania a prescription is those 18+.
Only tobacco, mint, or menthol flavours are permitted.
For more information:
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How are people buying vapes if they're illegal without a prescription?
How are novel nicotine products regulated in Australia?
Nicotine for human use is classified under the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (the Poisons Standard) as a Schedule 4 ‘prescription only medicine’, except:
- when included in Schedule 3 (i.e. in therapeutic vaping goods); or
- in tobacco prepared and packed for smoking; or
- in preparations for ‘oromucosal or transdermal administration’ for human therapeutic use when included in the ARTG as an aid in withdrawal from tobacco smoking or nicotine vaping (i.e. nicotine patches, gum, mouth spray, lozenges etc).
To date, there are no nicotine vapes or pouches or other novel products that have been assessed by the TGA and entered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and it is therefore not legal to supply or market these products in Australia (excluding above exceptions).
Further information is available via the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Would cutting tobacco taxes address the illegal market?
No. There is no credible evidence that reducing tobacco taxes reduces illicit trade. Illicit tobacco is driven by organised crime, weak enforcement and poor retail regulation. Cutting taxes would increase smoking and benefit the tobacco industry, while doing little to disrupt illegal supply.
The purpose of the tobacco excise is not to provide endless revenue to the Government. The purpose of the tobacco excise to drive down smoking rates, and it’s been very successful in doing that.
Does the tobacco industry operate in Australia, and does it influence policy?
Yes. Tobacco companies continue to operate in Australia and actively seek to influence policy through lobbying, legal action, industry-funded research, third parties and media campaigns. This includes efforts to shape debates around vaping, illicit trade and regulation. The World Health Organization recognises the tobacco industry’s interests as fundamentally incompatible with public health, which is why we advocate for governments to protect policy-making from industry interference.