By Bernice Melrose
(Op-ed)
22 January 2024
"A video was released by Victorian Police on Monday of a black market criminal/representitive ordering a Wangaratta Tobacco and Vape store operator to immediately close down. This is a usual stand over tactic that has now become common place resulting in over 200 firebombings since 2023.
The Wangaratta store became the 30th victim of such an attack after the threat was acted upon. Police are pleading with the public for more information as they have no chance of containing this rampant situation caused by esaclating tobacco taxes and bnabs on vape products." said ALIVE Advocacy Movement Director, Pippa Starr.
It's important that people understand what is going on because many don't know. All the firebombings mean nothing if it's not in your town or your street or if you are a non smokers or non vape user.
Being an advocate for safe vaping, I know our Govt caused this terrible Blackmarket.
This video shows exactly what is happening up and down the Country as gangs move in on tobacco stores who may or may not be selling illegal disposable vapes and illegal cheap cigarettes. Its part of the turf wars operations.
This business was consequently firebombed in July 2024. The woman and her dogs were resucued from the blaze but were lucky to get out alive.
Many tobacco shop owners have no choice, you sell for a gang or you get burnt down and as a side note, they'll burn down your home too.
Had Mark Butler MP health minister or Greg Hunt previously, listened to the safe vaping community, regulated and taxed vapes when they were being sold in licensed vape stores that were run by professional people, who would never sell a product to an under 18yr old we wouldn't see this.
Their products were for adults and they were safer. They were personalised to the customers requirements, and they helped over 1.5million Aussies quit smoking.
Then the government stepped in with hob nail boots on and ran such disgusting propaganda stories that all vapes were killing people. Totally untrue!
Yep, the disposables were from China and kids were buying them. That had to be stopped. No one knew what they really contained. However, the govt basically declared a ban on all vapes. Even though vape stores were legal and strictly controlled, they were all put out of business, with just a few days notice.
So this video you see in this article is a result of our govt's prohibition of vapes.
They had a chance years ago to sort this out, safely and sensibly.
How's it working out Mr Butler MP?
More people have now been killed or harmed in Australia from gang related incidents, than by nicotine vaping over 20+ years, around the world!
There is a way to stop this but as usual, our govt will not consider that way. Now the Blackmarket earns more revenue than our government earns from legal cigarettes. Our government just increases taxes on cigs and it is the people who are addicted and are already doing it tough on finances that have to resort to buying from the blackmarket.
Who can afford the legal ones anymore, $60 to $70 a pkt!
Legalise & regulate safe vaping, allow smokers to purchase legal cigs if necessary and reduce the govt revenues on legal tobacco. It's the only way Australia can rid themselves of this blackmarket. It's the only way Australians who live nearby gang leaders or tobacco stores can sleep safely in their beds.
Vaping can reduce our smoking rates down to the same as Sweden, NZ and UK.
Who doesn't want that?
Apparently, our govt doesnt! Safe Vapes should be available to every adult smoker in the country. Disposables do have a place in the vaping world but not for kids. Disposables are suitable for many adults who cannot use an open device type vape. For adults with disabilities or mental health issues etc. But our government could stop the influx of the crappy disposable vapes controlled by the BM and regulate better control of disposables made safely and cheaper if they chose too. They dont!