25 June 2024: 

" I want to start by acknowledging the work of my colleague Senator Steele-John on behalf of the Greens in navigating a pathway through what is a wicked social problem. The Greens came to the issue of vaping with a set of solid principles behind the politics of it, based upon the experience of regulating other drugs. That experience is one not just the Greens have seen but anyone with their eyes open can see. That's why the Greens' position acknowledges the harm and the addiction possible through vaping. We want to do what we can to treat it as a public health concern and, in treating it as a public health concern, also acknowledge the lessons from the failed efforts to prohibit other drugs."

​

"Might there be a continuing black market available for some of the flavoured vapes? There probably will be, to some extent, and we'll need to constantly review this scheme and work with regulators to refine the package over time. That's one of the reasons why the Greens negotiated a statutory review, not 20 years into the future but three years into the future so we have some experience. We should be actively looking at the international experience, too. We should be following what is happening in New Zealand, the UK and other jurisdictions, and learn from that other experience as well."

​

More here >>

​

David Shoebridge Is Wrong, Here's Why:

​

Senator David Shoebridge’s speech on vaping reform is riddled with factual inaccuracies, flawed logic, and a dangerous misunderstanding of harm reduction. While he claims the Greens have “got the balance right,” in reality, the policy they support—under Health Minister Mark Butler—will fuel the black market, restrict access to a harm reduction tool for smokers, and do little to stop youth vaping. Below are the key reasons why Shoebridge’s position is wrong and counterproductive.

​

1. The Labor-Greens Policy is Fueling the Black Market, Not Stopping It

​

Shoebridge claims the reforms will “put a lid on and reverse the scale of addiction to vapes.”

This is demonstrably false:

✅ Australia’s prohibitionist vaping policies have already created one of the world’s largest black markets. The government’s crackdown has led to unregulated, dangerous products flooding the streets​.

✅ Instead of stopping youth access, these laws have made it easier for young people to buy vapes illegally. Criminal networks don’t check IDs—regulated retailers do​.

✅ In contrast, countries with legal, regulated vape sales (UK, New Zealand, Canada) have seen both declining youth smoking rates and fewer illicit vape sales​.

​

Fact: The best way to prevent youth vaping and illegal trade is through properly regulated retail sales—not pharmacy-only restrictions that drive consumers into the black market.

​

2. The Pharmacy-Only Model is Unworkable and Will Fail

​

Shoebridge argues that the pharmacy model is a balanced and effective solution.

However, this ignores the evidence:

​

•  Australia’s previous prescription-only model was a complete failure. Very few smokers obtained vapes through legal channels, while black market sales skyrocketed​.

​

• Pharmacies are not equipped or willing to sell vapes at the scale needed. Many pharmacists have stated they don’t want to stock vaping products​.

​

• Smokers need easy access to vaping, not more bureaucratic hurdles. The UK and New Zealand allow regulated retail vape sales, which has helped their smoking rates drop faster than Australia’s​.

​

Fact: The pharmacy-only model is a de facto barrier to access, not a harm reduction strategy.

​

3. The “Coles and Woolies Approach” is a Strawman Argument

​

Shoebridge mocks the opposition’s call for vapes to be sold in major retailers like Coles and Woolworths, but he ignores global best practices:

​

✅ The UK and New Zealand allow vapes to be sold in general retail stores under strict regulations.

This ensures adult smokers can access safe, regulated products​​.

​

✅ Australia already allows cigarettes to be sold in supermarkets, petrol stations, and convenience stores. Why should a less harmful alternative be harder to access than deadly cigarettes?​

​

Fact: The “Coles and Woolies” argument is a distraction. Regulated retail sales with strict age verification work—just like they do for alcohol and tobacco.

​

4. Shoebridge Admits the Black Market Will Continue

​

Shoebridge contradicts himself by acknowledging that “there probably will be” an ongoing black market for flavored vapes.

​

❌ If the policy is effective, why does he admit an illegal market will persist?

❌ Why is the government prioritizing bans and seizures instead of regulating the market to eliminate illicit sales?

​

✅ Countries with legal retail sales have lower illicit trade because consumers prefer safe, regulated products. The UK and New Zealand have far fewer black-market issues than Australia​.

​

Fact: Shoebridge knows prohibition doesn’t work—but he still supports a policy that fuels the black market.

​

5. The “Gateway Theory” is a Myth

​

• Shoebridge implies that vaping is creating a new generation of nicotine addiction. This is scientifically false:

​

• Most young people who vape are already smokers or at high risk of smoking. Studies show that vaping is displacing smoking rather than causing it​.

​

• There is no credible evidence that vaping leads to smoking. In the UK and New Zealand, youth smoking rates continue to decline despite vaping being legal and accessible​​.

​

• Public Health England, the Royal College of Physicians, and the NHS all confirm that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking​.

​

Fact: Shoebridge is fear-mongering. The real gateway drug is cigarettes, not vaping.

​

6. The Greens’ Position Contradicts Harm Reduction Principles

​

Shoebridge claims the Greens support harm reduction, yet their policy does the opposite:

​

❌ Harm reduction means giving smokers a safer alternative.

Making vapes harder to access than cigarettes is the opposite of harm reduction​.

​

❌ If the goal is to reduce harm, why make vapes a pharmacy-only product when cigarettes are freely available?

It’s completely inconsistent with public health logic​.

​

❌ The Greens have fought for harm reduction in other areas (e.g., drug decriminalization), yet they support a punitive vaping policy that will force people back to cigarettes.

​

Fact: A real harm reduction approach means legal, regulated retail vape sales—not bans and restrictions that push vapers to the black market or back to smoking.

​

The Labor-Greens Policy is a Failure

​

Shoebridge’s speech is filled with contradictions, misinformation, and a failure to acknowledge the real-world consequences of the government’s vaping policy.

The facts are clear:

•  The pharmacy-only model is unworkable and will push more people to illegal sales or back to cigarettes.

​

•  Prohibition fuels black-market activity and organized crime, as already seen in Australia.

​

•  Countries with legal, regulated vape sales (UK, NZ, Canada) have lower smoking rates and fewer illicit products.

​

•  The “Coles and Woolies approach” is actually a sensible regulatory model that has worked overseas.

​

The Greens and Labor have ignored the evidence, ignored international best practices, and ignored warnings from harm reduction experts. Their policy is doomed to fail.

 The only real solution is to allow licensed retail vape sales with strict regulations, age verification, and product safety standards—just like the UK and New Zealand.

Australia deserves a vaping policy that prioritizes harm reduction and public health, not prohibitionist failures.

​

​