Australian Treasurer Vows Crackdown on Youth Vaping

Today, on April 12, Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated that the rise of e-cigarettes in Australia is completely unacceptable, as alternatives to cigarettes could undermine the budget's bottom line.

E-cigarettes have replaced heavily taxed tobacco products as the preferred nicotine habit among young people.

The decline in tobacco usage (with cigarette retail prices accounting for about 70% of consumption tax) could lead to a $5 billion reduction in tax revenue for this fiscal year, as evidenced by a recent police raid highlighting the scale of the illegal untaxed cigarette black market.

Dr. Chalmers pointed out at a press conference in Brisbane on Tuesday that Australia has witnessed explosive growth in e-cigarettes.

Dr. Chalmers said: The widespread use of e-cigarettes and the current state of smoking is completely unacceptable. This is a budget issue, but more importantly, it is a societal issue.

It is estimated that 400,000 Australians regularly use e-cigarettes, and they are particularly popular among young people, with estimates suggesting that one in ten individuals aged 16 to 24 use e-cigarettes. 

In 2019, over one-third of e-cigarette users in Australia were under the age of 25, with 11% of the population aged 14 and older reporting having used e-cigarettes.

In contrast, according to the latest data, the number of Australians using traditional tobacco products has steadily declined over the past decade, from 16% to 11%.

E-cigarettes containing nicotine are intended as a substitute for traditional tobacco products and can only be legally obtained through a doctor's prescription.

However, they are widely available online or from retailers illegally selling them.

Dr. Chalmers said that as a parent, rather than a financial officer, he is more concerned about this issue.

He stated: I believe anyone who drives past a bus stop after school and sees e-cigarettes spreading among our youth would agree—this development is incredible.

Dr. Chalmers said that Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is working with state health ministers to develop measures to curb the rise of e-cigarettes.

Despite the loss of tax revenue, the Albanese government announced new measures to reduce traditional tobacco use in early December.

Mr. Butler announced a ban on menthol and other flavored cigarettes, noting that health warnings will be printed on each cigarette, and stated that as part of the government's efforts to curb this habit, packaging will adopt "uglier" colors.

The health minister also expressed his concerns about the increasing number of e-cigarette users and that children are the target market.

He said: E-cigarettes on the market with pink unicorn, bubblegum flavors, and fruit flavors—they are not marketed to adults.

E-cigarette suppliers have been avoiding laws restricting nicotine content by simply not listing their ingredients, which may also include other harmful chemicals.

A study published by the Australian National University in March indicated that e-cigarettes pose significant health risks, especially to teenagers.

The research paper stated that e-cigarette users are inhaling complex chemical mixtures.

Over 240 chemicals were found in the toxicological analysis of non-nicotine e-cigarettes. In contrast, traditional cigarettes contain about 7,000 chemicals.

At least 38 of these chemicals are classified as toxic substances, and another 27 are associated with adverse health outcomes.

Given the increasing use of e-cigarettes among children, the Australian Medical Association urges the government to ban them.

"The Australian government needs to take immediate action," said AMA President Professor Steve Robson. "This will help us begin to address the issue of selling e-cigarettes to children."

On Tuesday, police revealed that they seized over 16 tons of illegal tobacco last Wednesday, with an estimated tax value of nearly $30 million—this situation is becoming increasingly common in Australia.

Police raided this illegal crop, which was allegedly grown by a criminal tobacco group on a property in Murga, located about 55 kilometers east of Parks in New South Wales. #p#分页标题#e#

Record-breaking footage showed a fleet of police cars suddenly rushing towards the property before officers smashed the door with a battering ram.

They estimated the tax value of the tobacco at $28 million, meaning the actual value of the crop could reach hundreds of millions of dollars.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Cadden, commander of Operation Phobetor, stated that this seizure disrupted the supply chain and prevented profits from flowing into organized crime activities.

He said that tobacco is just one source of income that organized criminals use to fund other illegal activities.

It is estimated that the illegal tobacco trade in Australia is worth $822 million.

Since 2006, it has been illegal to grow tobacco in Australia.

If convicted, growing tobacco can result in a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.