Ballarat teachers and parents that have struggled with a widespread surge of teenage children taking up vaping may find some hope in next week's budget, with a major fund to crack down on their illegal sale.
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A major public health campaign will be launched to crack down on vaping in a bid to prevent the next generation of "nicotine addicts," and to stamp out the "number one" behavioural issue among Aussie teens, the health minister says.
Health Minister Mark Butler will on Tuesday announce a $234 million boost in this month's budget for tougher regulation of e-cigarettes, including new controls on their importation and packaging in an attempt to control the massive black market over the products..
Millions of disposable vapes will be banned under a major crackdown that will be a blow to retail stores but the plan also involves making it easier for people to vape with a doctor's prescription.
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To tackle the growing black market, the government will increase the product standards for vapes, including by restricting flavours and colours.
They will require pharmaceutical-like packaging, a reduction in the allowed nicotine concentrations and volumes, and ban single use vapes.
In a speech at the National Press Club, Mr Butler will detail the scale of the public health issue, with children under the age of four having been reported to Victoria's poisons hotline after they used a vape.
"This is a product targeted at our kids, sold alongside lollies and chocolate bars," he will say.
"Vaping has become the number one behavioural issue in high schools, and it's becoming widespread in primary schools.
"This must end."
Mr Butler says the hard won gains in public health relating to the reduction in smoking, could be undone by a "new threat".
"Vaping was sold to governments and communities around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit," he will say.
"It was not sold as a recreational product, especially not one for our kids. But that is what it has become: The biggest loophole in Australian history."
Mr Butler will say "Big Tobacco" has wrapped another addictive product in shiny packaging and added flavours to create a "new generation of nicotine addicts".
A $63 million public health campaign will be launched to discourage Australians from taking up vaping, and will encourage them to quit.
Support programs helping Australians quit the habit will be bolstered by a $30 million investment, with education in smoking and nicotine cessation among health practitioners to be strengthened.
The government will commit a further $140 million for a program helping Indigenous people stop smoking, which will be expanded to include vaping.
Shocking research found four out of five teenagers surveyed, aged between 15 to 17, found it easy or somewhat easy to buy vapes in retail stores.
AAP
