A Coalition Government would introduce a regulated vaping model to crack down on crime and keep vapes out of the hands of Australian children, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Dr Anne Webster said today, hailing the outcome was a win for The Nationals, who have pushed for a regulation model for years.

The Nationals Federal Conference passed a motion in 2021 supporting a regulatory framework to legalise vaping products with appropriate regulations to restrict access to underage Australians. The Nationals Leader David Littleproud has been pushing for a regulator model for well over a year.

“No Australian wants to see children getting access to vaping products or becoming addicted to vaping. But under Labor, kids are being targeted by a thriving and dangerous black market,” Dr Webster said.

“Labor’s prohibition-style approach plays straight into the hands of organised crime syndicates, who are making huge profits from the sale of illegal vapes. Worse still, an eleventh-hour deal with the Greens has created a regulatory dog’s breakfast, where Labor have decreed this week that pharmacists will exclusively sell vapes. Pharmacists don’t want to sell vapes any more than doctors want to prescribe them.

If elected, a Coalition Government will pursue a strictly-regulated retail model for vaping products under the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to put a stop to dodgy retailers selling vapes to Australian children with impunity through a rampant black market.

The Coalition will introduce a licencing scheme, prominent prevention campaigns and strong enforcement efforts, as part of a sensible approach to keep money out of the hands of criminals while stopping the sale of vapes to children.

“Our regulated approach will also address the dangerous and unknown chemicals contained in illegal vapes, by placing strict requirements on safety and quality,” Dr Webster said.

“The Coalition will also provide 10 times more funding towards law enforcement than Labor through a $250 million law enforcement package. The package will establish an illegal tobacco and vaping taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force to tackle illegal vapes from the border to the shopfront.

“The Coalition will deliver desperately needed strong Commonwealth leadership to crack down on organised criminal activity and protect Australian children.