Fed up and frustrated retailers have called on Federal Labor to quit playing politics over dangerous, illicit
vapes that are putting kids lives at risk – and match the Coalition’s policy to strictly regulate the manufacture, sale and purchase of government mandated vaping products, in the same way as tobacco and alcohol are managed.
Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare said the Albanese Government’s
failed ban on vapes had handed crime groups a free pass to import and sell dodgy, dangerous and potentially life threatening vapes that are made in shonky Chinese warehouses and deliberately aimed at being sold to kids.
“AACS supports the coalition plan that was announced almost one year ago to regulate vaping products the same way alcohol and tobacco are managed – which will mean we’ll all know what’s in them and can control how they’re manufactured and who they are sold to,” Mr Foukkare said.
“We’ve been waging a war against this insidious, tax-free vape crime racket for years and Australians – including huge amounts of parents – want real action now.
“It is clear as day that this black market is thriving under Labor’s failed ban, which has only seen more and
more illegal vapes imported into Australia and sold out in the open across shopping strips in all parts of Australia.
“AACS has more than 7,000 member stores who do not sell these disgusting and dodgy products – yet all
around them so called ‘tobacconists’ masquerading as convenience stores are popping and blatantly selling bubble-gum flavoured illegal vapes with unicorns and cartoons drawn on them.
Labor’s complete ban has failed beyond words.
“The ban has barely been enforced – just walk down the main street as these illegal vapes are on display and everywhere.
“There are now more adult vapers than smokers in Australia and the fact these dodgy vapes are almost exclusively being sold illegally just doesn’t make sense.
“We work with all sides of government, but in this instance the Coalition’s policy to regulate the sale of strictly made-to-code vaping products and tax them – a model that’s proven to have stamped out the black market in other Western countries – is the only way Australia will ever gain control of this huge social problem,” he said.
“We support the Coalition’s policy because it will mandate controls on flavours, get rid of pretty colours and pictures and make them only available for sale to 18-plus.
It will also ban disposables vapes and mean only legitimate licensed retailers who must pass a ‘fit and proper person” test can sell them to adults only,” Mr Foukkare said.
Crime associated with vapes and illegal tobacco is out of control across Australia, with both illicit products
heavily linked to crime gangs that Labor’s Health Minister Mark Butler has himself said are responsible drug and human trafficking, he said.
“Labor’s failed policy to protect Australians of all ages from the dangerous associated with the use and illegal sale vapes and illicit tobacco simply isn’t good enough and they must adopt a bipartisan approach to this with the Coalition.
“Make no mistake, million of Aussies – parents and teachers in particular – will have this front of mind when they are cast their vote in tomorrow’s federal election,” Mr Foukkare said.
Theo Foukkare is available for interview on 0423 003 133
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