Lung Foundation Australia urges WA Government to act on illicit tobacco and vape enforcement 

Lung Foundation Australia, the national peak body for lung health, is urging the WA Government to strengthen legislation and enforcement to address the growing harms caused by illicit tobacco and illegal e-cigarette (vape) sales.  

Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in Australia. Yet enforcement remains inconsistent, allowing illicit tobacco and unauthorised vaping products to proliferate. From a public-health perspective, enforcement must sit at the centre of Australia’s response, without it, decades of progress in reducing smoking and lung disease are at risk of being undone. 

There is strong and growing evidence that vaping poses serious health risks and increases the likelihood of tobacco use. Research shows young people who vape are five times more likely to go on to smoke, increasing their risk of lifelong nicotine dependence and lung disease. Despite existing regulations in WA, illegal products remain widely accessible, reflecting significant enforcement gaps. 

Lung Foundation Australia, alongside public health, medical and community organisations, released a joint statement in August calling on the WA Government to take action to address vaping by. 

• Explicitly prohibiting the sale and supply of unauthorised e-cigarettes to support enforcement 

• Banning advertising, promotion and sponsorship of e-cigarette products, regardless of nicotine content 

• Prohibiting vaping in all smoke-free settings 

• Strengthening penalties and resourcing for compliance and enforcement 

• Ensuring authorities have the power to efficiently ban harmful products and disrupt illicit supply 

Other states have demonstrated that stronger enforcement powers can reduce illegal trade and protect communities. Only coordinated, well-resourced action across all states and territories will disrupt illicit supply networks and reduce access to harmful products, particularly for young people. 

Lung Foundation Australia is calling for stronger, unified enforcement of tobacco retail regulations, alongside measures to reduce access to these harmful products. We urge states and territories to reduce the number of retail outlets who are allowed to sell tobacco products to curb illicit trade and ease the burden on enforcement agencies. We are also calling for increased investment in public education, prevention and cessation support.

For Australians ready to quit, help is available through Quitline on 13 78 48 or by requesting a callback at quit.org.au/request-callback. 

Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke is available for interviews or comment on the health impacts of vaping and illicit tobacco, enforcement gaps in WA, and why decisive action is needed now.