Allegra Spender (Wentworth, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

In 2023, after so many years in which the harms of tobacco smoking have been abundantly clear, it is stunning and unacceptable that tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Australia. More than 20,000 Australians die of smoking-related illnesses each year, and, tragically, more than a quarter of a million Australians will die of smoking-related cancers over the next 20 years. These illnesses have a devastating effect on those who suffer them, as well as their families, friends and loved ones. This alone should be enough to prompt change, but, in addition to the lives which are being lost, smoking costs the economy close to $137 billion per year in health and productivity expenses.

It is particularly concerning that these products are targeted at young people. We already know how addictive and harmful smoking is for young people, but the health risks of vaping are not properly understood, and, given the unknown chemical composition of many imported vape products, it's potentially very dangerous.

The targeting of young people is absolutely transparent and unconscionable. The vaping products are promoted on social media with bright colours and sweet flavours to make the products more appealing and more palatable, and it is done to create a new generation of addicts. Worst of all, retail stores with these products are choosing to locate themselves close to schools and close to young people. I was absolutely shocked when a tobacco store recently opened just four doors down from my old high school in Wentworth. Parents and others in the community were obviously desperately concerned that their children would access these products despite it being illegal. If you talk to any high school in I think any electorate of this country you will hear about the struggle to stop young people vaping. It is so prevalent across our high schools, and it's growing.

A recent study found that 14 per cent of Australian high school students, some as young as 12, have used an e-cigarette. That is one in seven of our young people. The use of these products by young people threatens the significant progress Australia has made in reducing smoking related deaths, while smoking rates have been more than halved in the past 30 years. The promotion and sale of addictive products to children is simply unacceptable. It must end. Regulating the sale and advertisement of tobacco and e-cigarette products is an essential and overdue step. I commend the government for listening to the concerns of the community and introducing this legislation. There is no reason that the promotion of e-cigarettes should be any different to the promotion of tobacco products, and this bill will deliver that consistency. The legislation will go some way towards achieving Australia's goal of reducing smoking rates to five per cent of the population by 2030.

However, this legislation is not sufficient in itself. Firstly, this legislation allows for political donations by e-cigarette companies. At a time when we are fighting e-cigarettes in this parliament and across our communities and in our schools, I think it is unconscionable for cigarette companies to be able to make donations to political parties. Secondly, in the conversations I have with the people of Wentworth, they say that while another regulation is fine, their concern is: is it actually going to make a difference on the ground, and is it going to enforced? Strengthening the law is a necessary and important step, but the point is actually to make a difference, and it is pointless if the government actually can't take action regarding those who are already breaking the law.

Again, I've had reports of vaping shops in my electorate, where it has been reported to the health department in New South Wales a number of times that they're illegally selling tobacco vapes, and really nothing happens. They've done this a series of times, and the shops are still open, still trading, and no doubt they're still selling tobacco vapes. The enforcement of these laws is absolutely critical if they are going to make a difference to our country. No child or teen in this country should be able to purchase or use a vape. The fact that they can do—cheaply, easily and conveniently—is a clear demonstration of government failure and a need for urgent action.

I know that some of this is at the state government level, but this is where federal government really needs to take leadership and work across the different levels to implement this. It is what I want to see and it is what the community wants to see, not only from the Commonwealth government but obviously also from the New South Wales state government. The sooner they act the better.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 16:4 8 to 16:5 0

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