Crackdown on illegal vapes

BUTLER’S SMOKESCREEN A BONUS FOR ORGANISED CRIME

Australian Federal Health Minister will today launch another crackdown on illegal vapes.

Nationals Senator Ross Cadell said with over one and a half million users and only 1635 approved applications it is clear the current system has failed, and Minister Butler’s press release and statement is more about building a smokescreen of blame rather than fixing the issue.

In his press statements today, Minister Butler has spoken of plain packaging, tobacco content and a single-use ban.

“Is the minister in such a haze that he doesn’t recognise that multinational organised crime gangs are behind the illegal manufacturing, importation, and distribution of this stuff to our kids? Does he think that some crime boss is going to change his packaging, ingredients, and distribution because he says so?”

“These criminal parasites make hundreds of millions of dollars because of this policy over many, many governments and we have no control over what ingredients, what standards, what materials go into them because we have no regulation,” Senator Cadell said.

“I am not a smoker or a vaper but when my children come home from school and talk of not using the bathroom because of vapes being used by other kids, when 4-year-olds die because of using them. It is not because of the regulated and monitored industries. It is because of criminals; this policy is about as touchy as a wet tobacco paper on them.”

Senator Cadell said It is time for a practical policy. We have lost this war; prohibition has led to a booming black market that allows people the almost open ability to buy unregulated products.

“Regulation and control is the answer. If your children are still getting their hands on vapes with unknown ingredients and nicotine content in six months – it is now in the hands of this government and this minister.”

“Labor’s announcement today is the wrong diagnosis for a serious illness,” Senator Cadell concluded.