Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland must explain why she has failed to block access to the online black market that is responsible for the nation’s youth vaping crisis.
Australian Association for Convenience Stores (AACS) CEO Theo Foukkare said Minister Rowland had not used ministerial powers that allow her to order internet service providers (ISPs) to block illicit websites and issue “take down” notices to social media platforms where vapes are being sold.
“We’re in the depths of a youth vaping crisis fuelled by illicit websites and predatory social media users that don’t care who they sell these things to,” Mr Foukkare said.
“Our school yards are flooded with vapes that are either being bought online by kids themselves, or by renegade retailers who buy them in bulk and flog them to kids of all ages at their dodgy shops.
“We’ve seen that unfold in Victoria, where a recent Herald Sun investigation uncovered dodgy shop owners selling to kids in school uniform and we continue to see rising rates of youth vaping right across Australia – because they’re just far too easy to get.
“AACS alerted the former Coalition Communications Minister Paul Fletcher to this massive problem in 2021 and he didn’t do anything about it,” Mr Foukkare said.
“Now – almost a year since forming government – Labor and Minister Rowland have also failed to cut off the online black market and cripple the supply chain at its core.”
Mr Foukkare said the Federal Government must also act to urgently introduce tough regulations that included harsh penalties for anyone caught selling vapes to anyone aged under 18.
“There is no doubt we have a problem with rogue corner stores and dodgy shopfronts that buy this crap from the online black market and sell it to our kids,” he said.
“They’re not members of AACS and they’re not welcome in our industry.
“We want to see them hit with crippling fines and even jail time.”
Mr Foukkare said shutting down access to online illicit retailers would pave the way for authorities to bring in strict regulation that further prevent kids from being able to buy vapes.
“We’re talking tough laws that allow vape sales for adults – but only via responsible, licensed retailers – the same way tobacco and alcohol are sold,” he said.
“We’ve seen this model work with tobacco and alcohol.
“We don’t have a youth drinking crisis, or a youth smoking crisis – that’s because those products are subject to strict regulations which deters an online black market for smokes and alcohol.
“If this government is serious about tackling the youth vaping crisis it would use its own powers now to shut the black market down online,” Mr Foukkare said.
Theo Foukkare is available for interview on 0423 003 133.
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