Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Hansard source

These are government amendments that have come out of good faith consultations, Senator Ruston, with the crossbench. These amendments strengthen the laws and clarify the intent that has always been in the laws to return vaping to its original state of purpose of helping hardened smokers to quit by cracking down on the commercial sale and supply of recreational vapes while ensuring that those people who really need a therapeutic vape to help them quit can get one.

We've also listened to feedback generally about how important it is for people to have quick access to a quit consultation with a healthcare professional when they seek it. We know that a pharmacy is often the most accessible place people turn to when they need health advice, especially in remote and rural areas. After a 10-month period of having those quick conversations with their GP, we will expand the range of healthcare professionals who can have those conversations and recommend whether a therapeutic vape is needed to include pharmacists. I am conscious of the media commentary around the changes, but we do have the support of thousands of pharmacies across the country in relation to this. This has been a long process, one that Minister Mark Butler has worked diligently on with the health sector, the AMA, GPs and pharmacies, so we are prepared to move these amendments.