Australian Government Accused of Misusing Funds to Combat E-Cigarettes

Nancy Loucas, the executive coordinator of the Asia Pacific Advocates for Tobacco Harm Reduction (CAPHRA), has expressed that the crackdown on e-cigarette retailers in Australia constitutes a serious misuse of public funds, which should be directed towards improving the country's healthcare system.

Before she issued her statement, the government of New South Wales in Australia intensified its warnings to compliant retailers about the risks associated with e-cigarette products. They also continue to back a controversial joint "education campaign" with the Department of Education on the issue of e-cigarettes.

The centerpiece of the event is the "Get the Facts" - Vaping Toolkit aimed at teachers, parents, and adolescent students. CAPHRA stated that despite Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr. Marianne Gale's assurance that the website does not contain "evidence-based resources and educational materials," it should be taken down while its many statements are independently verified.

These claims about electronic cigarettes are either completely exaggerated or, in the worst case scenario, have no scientific basis. The Australian public, regardless of age, needs to have complete confidence in any health statements on government websites. Unfortunately, this campaign is far from factual. Instead, it is filled with blatant lies," said Ms. Lucas.

In a statement that has angered advocates for tobacco harm reduction (THR) throughout the entire Asia-Pacific region, Dr. Gale claimed, "Many people believe that e-cigarettes are either completely harmless or less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

In a recent situation, an Australian chief health officer has been actively informing the public that the harm of vaping is not less than smoking. However, international research strongly refutes this claim. Despite providing no evidence to support her statement, the Australian public continues to receive such costly yet worthless advice. This is a complete embarrassment," she said.

According to CAPHRA, Australians who want to know the truth about vaping should look to New Zealand. Adults can legally use nicotine e-cigarettes there under regulations targeting retailers and manufacturers in 2020. Smokers looking to quit do not need to obtain a prescription from a doctor, unlike in Australia.

Asking doctors to prescribe cigarettes has left 2.3 million smokers in Australia disappointed, not to mention the approximately 20,000 Australians who die each year from smoking-related illnesses. While Australia's overall smoking rate has remained stagnant over the past decade, New Zealand has seen a 50% decrease in its smoking rate, largely due to the availability of legally sanctioned, less harmful alternatives for smokers, according to Ms. Lucas.

CAPHRA has pointed out that the headline of the New Zealand Ministry of Health's "Vaping facts" website states that "vaping is less harmful than smoking".

New Zealand is engaging in a positive dialogue with the public with the goal of achieving a smoke-free nation by 2025, with a smoking rate of 5% or less. In contrast, health leaders in Australia are continuing to ban adults from entering retail stores while using significant public resources to deter the use of e-cigarettes.

Australia's healthcare system is failing miserably. The persistent threats and lies surrounding e-cigarettes will make it almost impossible to achieve the country's goal of reducing smoking rates by 10% in the short term. They need a new strategy to eradicate tobacco, as the current one clearly isn't working," said Nancy Lucas.

CAPHRA, an advocacy group, has amassed almost 15,000 endorsement letters and is urging those who have quit smoking through the use of nicotine-free alternatives to share their stories on www.righttovape.org.

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