27 March 2024: 

" I'm very proud of the fact that the Albanese government has introduced to parliament world-leading vaping legislation, the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Bill 2024. As well as complimenting the member for Kooyong and the many members who have made excellent contributions, I really want to pay tribute to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler.

More here >>

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Tanya Plibersek Is Wrong, Here's Why:

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Tanya Plibersek’s speech contains multiple inaccuracies, misleading statements, and fear-based rhetoric rather than a balanced, evidence-based approach to vaping regulation. Below is a rebuttal of her main arguments, using scientific research and public health data.

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1. Vaping Has NOT "Killed People"

Plibersek claims, "We know that vaping has already killed people."

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• Fact: There is no evidence of vaping causing deaths in Australia.

• The CDC cases in the U.S. (EVALI) were caused by illicit THC cartridges containing Vitamin E acetate, not nicotine vapes.

• No confirmed deaths have been linked to regulated nicotine vaping products.

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2. Vaper’s Cough and Youth Addiction – Exaggerated Claims

Plibersek claims, "Doctors here are already seeing significant lung problems from vaping, including 'vaper's cough'."

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• Fact: There is no established medical diagnosis of "vaper’s cough."

• While some vapers experience throat irritation, this is not a sign of serious lung disease and is far less harmful than smoking-related conditions like COPD or emphysema.

• Nicotine is less addictive when vaped than when smoked, and youth addiction concerns are overstated.

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3. The "Vaping Industry Targets Kids" Narrative is Misleading

Plibersek claims, "There is absolutely no question that the colours, flavours, and unicorn branding are designed to appeal to children."

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• Fact: Flavored vapes are primarily used by adult ex-smokers to quit cigarettes, and studies show they increase smoking cessation success.

• Countries with regulated retail sales (UK, New Zealand) enforce strict age restrictions and still allow flavors because they are essential for adults switching from cigarettes.

• Illegal, black-market sales—not regulated vape stores—are the primary source of youth access.

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4. The "2000 Chemicals in Vaping Fluid" Argument Is Misleading

Plibersek claims, "At least 2,000 chemicals can be found in vaping fluid, including embalming chemicals and weed killer."

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• Fact: This is a scare tactic with no context. Vapes contain vegetable glycerine, propylene glcol, small amounts of flavours and nicotine, when heated and inhaled has >1% of the health implications of smoking. 

• Cigarettes contain over 7,000 chemicals, including 70 known carcinogens.

• Most chemicals in regulated e-liquids are food-grade substances, and vaping aerosol contains far fewer toxins than cigarette smoke.

• The real risk comes from illicit, unregulated products, which are thriving due to Australia’s failed prescription-only model.

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5. The "Black Gum Disease" and Dental Claims Are Unproven

Plibersek claims, "The Dental Association has warned about an alarming rate of increase in black gum disease in 12- to 15-year-olds."

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• Fact: There is no published scientific evidence linking "black gum disease" specifically to vaping.

• Smoking is a major cause of gum disease, and if vaping were causing widespread dental issues, it would already be evident in countries where vaping is widely used.

• Most evidence suggests that vaping has significantly lower risks than smoking, including for oral health.

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6. Vaping Is Not a Gateway to Smoking

Plibersek claims, "People who start vaping are three times more likely to go on to be smokers."

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• Fact: This is a misrepresentation of correlation as causation.

• Youth who vape are already at higher risk of smoking due to shared risk factors (e.g., peer influence, risk-taking behavior).

• Youth smoking rates have continued to decline in countries where vaping is regulated, showing that vaping is displacing smoking rather than encouraging it.

• The "gateway theory" is not supported by real-world data from the UK, Canada, or New Zealand.

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7. The Poisons Hotline Argument Lacks Context

Plibersek claims, "170 calls were made to the poisons hotline about children ingesting vape liquid, including 17 cases in children under one year old."

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• Fact: While accidental ingestion is concerning, it is extremely rare and does not justify prohibition.

• Household poisons like paracetamol, household cleaners, and alcohol cause significantly more accidental poisonings.

• Proper regulation, child-proof packaging, and public education are the solutions, not banning adult access.

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8. Vapes Are NOT an Environmental Catastrophe Compared to Cigarettes

Plibersek claims, "There is no safe way to dispose of vapes, and they will pollute the environment for 1,000 years."

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• Fact: Cigarettes are the real environmental disaster.

  • 4.5 trillion cigarette butts are littered annually, making them the most common form of plastic pollution.

  • Cigarette filters contain plastic and take decades to decompose, leaking toxic chemicals into the environment.

• Vapes can be recycled if proper disposal programs are implemented, similar to battery recycling programs.

• The solution is not banning vapes but enforcing proper recycling programs and moving to refillable devices.

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9. Australia’s Prescription-Only Model Has Been a Total Failure

Plibersek supports pharmacy-only vapes, ignoring that:

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• The black market is thriving, making unregulated vapes easily accessible to kids.

• Adult smokers struggle to access vaping products legally, reducing quit rates.

• The UK and New Zealand have regulated retail models that ensure strict age verification while keeping vapes accessible to adults.

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10. This Legislation Won’t Work and Will Make Things Worse

Plibersek claims, "This legislation will save lives."

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• Fact: This legislation will drive more vapers back to smoking, increase black market sales, and make nicotine less accessible to adult smokers trying to quit.

• Prohibition has failed in every country that has tried it—Australia is repeating the same mistakes instead of implementing evidence-based regulation.

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Tanya Plibersek’s speech is filled with fear-mongering, misleading claims, and anti-scientific rhetoric.

The real solution is proper regulation, not prohibition.

🔹 Australia should follow evidence-based models from the UK and New Zealand, which prioritize public health by regulating vape sales, enforcing strict age limits, and ensuring product safety.

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