2017/17: Should e-cigarettes be banned in Australia?
Introduction to the media issue
Video clip at right:On October 19, 2017, Senator Cory Bernardi of the Australian Conservatives declared his support for the sale of e-cigarettes to be made legal in Australia during an interview on Sky News Live. If you cannot see this clip, it will be because video is blocked by your network. To view the clip, access from home or from a public library, or from another network which allows viewing of video clips.
What they said...
'It's big tobacco which is arguing the case for these e-cigarettes and they're only doing it because it's in their interests. I have a very strong, clear, categorical view that this is not something that should occur in Australia'
Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt
'I believe that e-cigarettes have huge potential to save lives by providing an alternative to smoking. Yet this can only be realised if we address negative harm perceptions and communicate honestly with the public'
Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy and CRUK/BUPA Chair in Behavioural Research for Cancer Prevention, University of Stirling
The issue at a glance
On October 6, 2017, the federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt, stated that he would never lift the ban on e-cigarettes in Australia, despite an ongoing Senate inquiry into their use.
Five months before, on May 25, 2017, the Minister had announced that the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport would inquire into and report on the use and marketing of e-cigarettes and personal vaporisers in Australia. Submissions to the inquiry closed on July 6, 2017.
Explaining why he had made his decision in advance of the Senate Committee reporting its findings, the Health Minister stated, ' It's big tobacco which is arguing the case for these e-cigarettes and they're only doing it because it's in their interests. I have a very strong, clear, categorical view that this is not something that should occur in Australia.'
The Minister's statement has met with support from the National Health and Medical Research Council and federal and state health departments. However, a range of health advocates from overseas and some authorities in Australia have defended the health benefits of e-cigarettes and condemned the Minister's statement as premature.