Wendy
Jenny Salesa, Associate Minister of Health announced on Wednesday evening that a bill to legislate behaviour around vaping would not be forthcoming before Christmas. In fact, she said, it will be within their first term, so it could be just before the election next year.
This flies in the face of the PM’s comment Wednesday morning that legislation around vaping would be coming soon. What is going on with their messaging – are they just making it up as they go along? What happened to their promise in 2018 that legislation would be implemented in 2019?
There is a growing chorus of concern, including this week from headmasters from high decile schools, saying one-third of students have tried it and they and health groups want to know when legislation is coming.
Overseas where vaping has been practised for longer some of the signs are alarming.
An 18-year-old man has undergone double lung transplant surgery in the US. and there have been reports of a surgeon comparing the lungs of an 18-year-old patient to that of an 80-year old.
Some deaths have been recorded connected with vaping in the US. (link below)
This week The New York City Council has voted, 42-2 to ban all flavoured electronic cigarettes and e-liquid flavours used for vaping, which critics say cater to young people instead of helping adults quit smoking.
Our government dropped the ball when they dropped targets on immunisation last year, with current rates dropping to the mid-80s from 93% in 2017. They do not want accountability. The question on accountability may arise again in the future with the government dragging its heels on legislation around vaping, with our children getting more immersed in a potentially deadly habit and our schools powerless to stop them.
Our PM who has said vaping legislation must be balanced and protect young people is dithering yet again when the safety and welfare of our young is at stake.