New anti-smoking laws welcome

AMA Queensland has commended the state government’s moves to strengthen anti-smoking laws, and its decision to hold an inquiry into vaping.

“We have been calling for licensing of tobacco sales, expanded smoke-free areas and getting rid of cigarette vending machines for years,” AMA Queensland President Dr Maria Boulton said.

“The government proposed a raft of legal changes in its tobacco law reform discussion paper, including banning smoking in outdoor markets and school car parks, not allowing children in smoking areas in pubs and clubs, and requiring tobacco product retailers to be licensed.

“These reforms are long overdue and we support them wholeheartedly. Many of them have been in place in other states and territories for years, and we support extending them to Queensland.

“We congratulate the Queensland Government on listening to these calls and taking action.

“We also welcome the parliamentary inquiry into vaping and the risks associated with e-cigarettes. Queensland and Australia have been world leaders in reducing smoking rates and the associated harms from nicotine addiction and lung disease.

“Cigarettes are expensive for a reason. They are the only legal recreational product that - if used as designed – will kill you. Liquid nicotine used in vaping is only legally available in Australia with a prescription.

“We need strong laws and even stronger enforcement to ensure that anyone licensed to sell nicotine products acts at all times in accordance with the law.

“We must ensure vaping does not become a gateway to nicotine addiction and lung damage for new generations who would never consider smoking a tobacco cigarette.

“Last year, the Queensland Government received the Dirty Ashtray Award for failing to protect children from the sale of vaping products.

“Vapes are clearly targeted at non-smokers, particularly teenagers. They are cheaper than tobacco, they are designed to appeal to younger users with colourful packaging and fruity flavours, they don’t smell like cigarettes, and they are easier to hide from parents.”

Last year, a secret proposal by tobacco companies to pay pharmacies incentive fees to stock vaping products and then refer patients to GPs for nicotine prescriptions was scrapped after it was exposed by an investigative journalist.

“AMA Queensland condemns such efforts to compromise health practitioners’ integrity via inducements and incentives. However, without enforcement and licensing, there is a huge risk these efforts will be successful,” Dr Boulton said.