Lung Foundation Australia has condemned calls from politicians, small business and vaping lobby groups to introduce an excise on e-cigarette products.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said attempts to circumvent vital tobacco and vaping reforms by floating the idea of a vaping tax were a blatant last-ditch effort from industry organisations about to be cut off from a lucrative cash cow.
“A vaping excise will come nowhere near close to paying for the injuries, disease, loss to the economy in mortality and morbidity caused by the product,” Mr Brooke said.
“It doesn’t make sense financially, except to the Big Tobacco and Vaping companies’ bottom line, and to those who continue to profit on the ill health of Australians.
“Lung Foundation Australia urges politicians trotting out this lead balloon of an idea to talk to parents in their community who are calling for reduced access rather than opening the market.
“We have already expressed our deep concern the National Party continues to accept political donations for tobacco companies which knowingly produce products that kill two out of three long term users. Frankly, it’s shameful.
“E-cigarettes as a tool to help quit smoking must be carefully managed with health professionals, not by late night service station attendants or corner store shift workers whose bosses’ priorities are making money; keeping people consuming a highly addictive product to keep the profits coming in.
“This sham financial return and economic benefit argument is about lining company and shop pockets, not about public health.
“We know one in five Australian children who try vaping will move on to using cigarettes, although they’ve never smoked before. Getting this poison out of our school yards and street kiosks is a no-brainer.
“Politicians promoting this as an economic benefit, the same ones who also promote less tax as a value, would do better to listen to parents and teachers than desperate retailers and vape shops looking to cash in.”
Mr Brooke said along with the concerning risks to lung health, the ingredients within many e-liquids include those commonly used in household disinfectant, petroleum, cosmetics, paint and even veterinary euthaniser.
“Anyone who puts tobacco companies ahead of the health of Australians, especially our most vulnerable young Australians, is putting greed and profits over the best interests of the nation,” he said.
For media enquiries please contact:
Lung Foundation Australia Media and Communications Specialist
Anna Hilton
0408 191 192
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