TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION

On 6 October 2020, I was pleased to move a motion, and have passed, for the establishment of a select committee into tobacco harm reduction – more colloquially known as vaping.  The members of the Tobacco Harm Reduction Select Committee have been established, and I have been elected Chair.

The Committee will inquire into tobacco reduction strategies, with particular reference to the items listed below.  As Chair, I look forward to hearing from as many people as possible.  I encourage you to learn about how to make a submission, by clicking here.

The hearing dates and locations are being finalised, and they are anticipated to be brief, with the report completed by December 2020.

This page will be regularly updated with important dates, information, and relevant links.

———————————————————————————————————————
The Committee will inquire into tobacco reduction strategies, with particular reference to:
  1. the treatment of nicotine vaping products (electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco) in developed countries similar to Australia (such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the European Union and United States), including but not limited to legislative and regulatory frameworks;
  2. the impact nicotine vaping products have had on smoking rates in these countries, and the aggregate population health impacts of these changes in nicotine consumption;
  3. the established evidence on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation treatment;
  4. the established evidence on the uptake of e-cigarettes amongst non- smokers and the potential gateway effect onto traditional tobacco products;
  5. evidence of the impact of legalising nicotine vaping products on youth smoking and vaping rates and measures that Australia could adopt to minimise youth smoking and vaping;
  6. access to e-cigarette products under Australia’s current regulatory frameworks;
  7. tobacco industry involvement in the selling and marketing of e-cigarettes; and
  8. any other related matter.

Links:

Business Insider Australia – 08 October 2020
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/senate-inquiry-into-vaping-in-australia-2020-10

National Retailers Association – 07 October 2020
https://www.nra.net.au/policy-advocacy-news/retailers-welcome-senate-inquiry-into-vaping/