Victoria’s health minister hit back at his federal counterpart after state leaders were urged to tackle the illicit sale of e-cigarettes to children.
It comes as experts warn of a “public health crisis” as the vaping phenomenon introduces a new generation to smoking.
A damning review published by leading researchers at the Australian National University found young people were more at risk of addiction, poisoning, seizures, trauma, burns, lung injury and taking up smoking through the use of nicotine e-cigarettes.
Mr Hunt wrote to his state counterparts urging them to try and combat the illicit sale of vapes to children, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
“I ask that you take active steps to enforce these laws by taking action against retailers contravening your laws, xjmtzywfor example by selling NVPs (nicotine vaping products) to schoolchildren,” Mr Hunt says in his message.
But Victoria’s health minister Martin Foley has said more needs to be done at a federal level to strengthen regulations around e-cigarettes.
He pointed Victoria’s actions in funding resources aimed at educating young people on the dangers of vaping.
“We’ve put strict rules in place in Victoria regarding the advertising, sale and use of e-cigarettes,” Mr Foley said.
“We need more action from the (Federal Government) to strengthen e-cigarette regulation at a national level.
“We encourage the Morrison Government to get on with it.”
In Victoria it is currently illegal to use an e-cigarette in areas where children and families are likely to be present, such as schools, kindergarten and skate parks.
It is also an offence to advertise or display e-cigarette products at retail outlets or sell them to people under 18.
ANU’s review found young nonsmokers who vape were around three times more likely to take up smoking.
“Nicotine use in children and adolescents can lead to lifelong addiction to issues as well as difficulties in concentration and learning,” the review’s lead author Professor Emily Banks said.
The findings have prompted Australia’s Cancer Council to issue an urgent warning to governments to act now and protect their communities from the new trend.
Professor Emily Banks at Australian National University says there is an increased risk of nicotine addiction with the use of e-cigarettes.
“Every week we’re hearing growing community concern about e-cigarettes in schools, the health harms and the risks of smoking uptake among young people,” Anita Dessaix, Cancer Council’s Public Health Committee Chair, said.
“This thorough, rigorous, independent report, from one of the world’s leading public health research centres, should put an end to the misinformation being spread by people trying to make money from e-cigarettes.”
