"I note that therapeutic vapes will be available in pharmacies for those who need to quit smoking. There is no doubt that quitting smoking is difficult. It can take years and many attempts."
Timeline:
25 June 2024:
"Big tobacco is moulding the minds of our children, one puff at a time. Disposable vapes are brightly coloured, they are bubble-gum flavoured, and they are deliberately sold within walking distance of our schools. Steve Robson, President of the Australian Medical Association, has called vaping 'one of the greatest public health challenges'. The Australian Parents Council has warned:
Our children are being used as guinea pigs—guinea pigs to test what vaping might do to them in the future.
The Albanese government is backing these organisations in taking strong action to stamp out vaping through stronger legislation, enforcement, education and support. There is strong and consistent evidence that young Australians who vape are around three times more likely to take up tobacco smoking compared to young Australians who have never vaped. The latest national data, from 2022-23, showed one in six high school students recently vaped—a fourfold increase since the previous survey in 2017."
Tony Sheldon Is Wrong, Here's Why:
Senator Sheldon’s speech against vaping is filled with misleading claims, alarmist rhetoric, and policy approaches that are ineffective and counterproductive. Below is a fact-based rebuttal, drawing on scientific evidence, harm reduction principles, and real-world policy outcomes.
1. “Big tobacco is moulding the minds of our children, one puff at a time.”
The Facts: Big Tobacco Is Not the Primary Driver of Vaping
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Vaping was developed by independent entrepreneurs, not Big Tobacco. The first modern e-cigarette was invented by Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist, in 2003 to help people quit smoking.
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Major tobacco companies initially opposed vaping because it threatened cigarette sales. They only entered the market after seeing its popularity.
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In countries like the UK and New Zealand, where regulated vape sales exist, smoking rates have dropped significantly.
The Real Threat: Black Market Sales
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Australia’s strict vaping regulations have created a booming black market, where unregulated and potentially dangerous vapes are widely available to youth.
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A regulated market would eliminate illicit sales, enforce age restrictions, and control product quality—but the government’s approach fuels criminal networks.
2. “Disposable vapes are brightly coloured, bubblegum flavoured, and sold near schools.”
The Facts: Flavors Help Adults Quit Smoking
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Flavored vapes are not designed for children; they are critical for helping adult smokers quit cigarettes.
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Studies show that adults prefer fruit and sweet flavors over tobacco flavors, as they make the transition from smoking easier.
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Countries like the UK, which regulate flavors and enforce strict age restrictions, have lower youth vaping rates than Australia.
3. “Vaping is one of the greatest public health challenges.”
The Facts: Smoking Is the Real Public Health Crisis
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Cigarette smoking kills over two-thirds of its long-term users and remains Australia’s leading cause of preventable death.
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Vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking according to Public Health England, the Royal College of Physicians, and the NHS.
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Countries that embrace vaping as a harm reduction tool have seen major declines in smoking rates.
4. “Our children are guinea pigs for vaping’s long-term effects.”
The Facts: There Is No Evidence of Major Long-Term Harms
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Vaping has been widely studied for over a decade, and while not risk-free, no serious long-term health effects comparable to smoking have been found.
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The Royal College of Physicians states that the risk of long-term harm from vaping is likely to be much lower than smoking.
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There is no evidence that vaping causes “popcorn lung” or serious lung disease in normal, legal use.
5. “Young Australians who vape are three times more likely to take up smoking.”
The Facts: The Gateway Theory Is Misleading
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The majority of young people who vape are already smokers or at high risk of smoking.
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Studies indicate that youth vaping is more likely to displace smoking rather than encourage it.
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The UK and New Zealand have seen declining youth smoking rates despite an increase in vaping.
6. “The Nationals are being influenced by Big Tobacco.”
The Facts: Pro-Vaping Policies Are Backed by Independent Experts
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Support for vaping comes from harm reduction experts, not Big Tobacco.
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The Royal College of Physicians, NHS, Cancer Research UK, and the UK Government all support regulated vaping as a tool for reducing smoking.
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Conflating harm reduction policies with tobacco industry influence is a dishonest tactic used to discredit legitimate scientific evidence.
7. “Therapeutic vapes will be available in pharmacies for those who need to quit smoking.”
The Facts: Australia’s Prescription-Only Model Has Failed
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Australia’s prescription-only model has led to widespread black market sales and made it difficult for smokers to access safer alternatives.
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In the UK and New Zealand, where nicotine vapes are legally available in stores with proper regulation, smoking rates have declined more rapidly.
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The prescription model has pushed adult smokers back to cigarettes, leading to worse public health outcomes.
8. “Since January, Australian Border Force has seized nearly two million vapes.”
The Facts: Prohibition Strengthens the Black Market
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The black market in Australia is thriving precisely because of these restrictive policies.
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Illegal vapes are often unregulated, potentially containing harmful substances.
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Regulating nicotine vapes through licensed retailers would eliminate these illicit sales and protect both youth and adult smokers.
9. “Labor governments have always taken strong, principled action on tobacco control.”
The Facts: Australia’s Vaping Policy Is Backfiring
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Australia is one of the only Western countries to make vaping harder to access than cigarettes, a move that contradicts global public health recommendations.
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Prohibition-style policies are failing, while regulated markets like the UK’s have successfully reduced smoking rates.
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Labor’s approach is forcing smokers back to deadly cigarettes instead of transitioning them to safer alternatives.
A More Effective Approach
Senator Sheldon’s speech is filled with misinformation and flawed logic. The best way to protect youth and reduce smoking rates is through a well-regulated, legal vaping market. The evidence from the UK and New Zealand shows that sensible regulation works, while Australia’s prohibition model has fueled black markets and increased youth access.
Instead of doubling down on failed policies, Australia should adopt a balanced regulatory approach that includes:
✅ Strict age verification for legal sales
✅ Licensed retail outlets instead of black-market dealers
✅ Product safety standards to eliminate harmful illegal products
✅ Access for adult smokers who want to quit cigarettes safely
Labor’s current vaping policy is pushing people back to smoking, strengthening criminal networks, and failing to protect youth. A legal, regulated approach is the real solution.