Do you agree with the goals and smoking prevalence targets for the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022-2030? Please provide an explanation for your selection.

Explainer

Goal – The Goal of the National Tobacco Strategy 2022-2030 is summarised as “improving the health of all Australians by reducing the prevalence of tobacco use and its associated health, social, environmental and economic costs, and the inequalities it causes.”

Prevalence Target – The aims are to achieve a national daily smoking rate of less than 10% by 2025 and 5% or less by 2030 in Australia.

Answer:
(You could say something like this -- but put it in your own language.)

(Select Strongly Disagree)

The people who remain addicted to tobacco should be given the opportunity to pursue better health outcomes by allowing them to use e-cigarettes (vaping) and access more easily than requiring a prescription. The Government must acknowledge vaping as an effective way to quit smoking and make it easier for smokers to access vaping products.

Do you agree with the objectives for the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022 – 2030? Please provide an explanation for this section:

Answer:
(You could say something like this -- but put it in your own language.)

(Select Strongly Disagree)

I strongly disagree with the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022-2030 objective of ‘preventing and reducing the harms associated with the marketing and use of novel and emerging tobacco products.’

This objective dismisses the benefits that e-cigarettes have provided as a tobacco harm reduction measure and how they have helped people quit smoking in Australia and around the world.

Do you agree with the guiding principles for the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022 – 2030? Please provide an explanation for your selections:

Explainer

The guiding principles listed in the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022 – 2030 are listed below:

• Working in partnerships

• The Evidence base for Tobacco Control

• Protection from all commercial and other vested interests

• Compliance and enforcement of tobacco control legislation

Answer:
(You could say something like this -- but put it in your own language.)

(Select Strongly Disagree)

I strongly disagree with the guiding principles of the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022 – 2030 and how they have been applied in practice.

I recommend the Federal Government work in partnership with the trusted doctors and medical organisations that consider vaping as an effective harm reduction measure rather than ignoring the public health successes from vaping in countries such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada.

Do you agree with the priority areas of the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022- 2030? Please provide an explanation for your selection.

Answer:
(You could say something like this -- but put it in your own language.)

(Select Strongly Disagree)

I strongly disagree with the priority areas listed in the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022 - 2030. Priority Area 9, ‘Strengthening regulations for novel and emerging products’, could be detrimental to smokers wanting to quit and use vaping products.

Tens-of-thousands of Australians have already used vaping as a way to quit smoking and at least 500,000 Australians already vape.

The Federal Government should regulate vaping as an adult consumer product and make them readily available to people who want to quit smoking.

Question 12

Do you agree with the actions listed under each priority area for the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022 – 2030?

Explainer

Priority Area 9, ‘Strengthening regulations for novel and emerging products’, has a list of actions which could be detrimental to smokers wanting to quit and use vaping products

Answer:
(You could say something like this -- but put it in your own language.)

(Select Strongly Disagree)

I strongly disagree. Many of the actions listed under Priority Area 9 are completely out of step with the experiences of most smokers in Australia. Taking steps to phase out vaping is terrible for the tens-of-thousands of Australian smokers who are trying to quit.

The Federal Government must acknowledge how these vaping products have helped people to quit smoking. Phasing out vaping in Australia would be utterly inconsistent with the approaches by governments in the UK, New Zealand and Canada. These countries have all implemented a regulated adult consumer model that has accelerated the rapid decline in smoking rates.

Please provide any additional comments on the draft National Tobacco Strategy 2022 – 2030.

Suggested Comments:
(You could say something like this -- but put it in your own language.)

It is clear from evidence given by public health experts in the UK, Canada and New Zealand that regulating vaping as an adult consumer model is an effective way of helping smokers to quit cigarettes.

If you wish to provide a standalone submission or any other relevant documents, please upload them here.

Suggestions

It is important to share personal stories of how using vaping products has led to better health outcomes for yourself, friends or family members.

If you have a personal story to share, write it in a word document and upload it.

If you are familiar with medical research that shows vaping is low risk and effective at helping people to quit, this is a good place to include evidence and references.

Example Story

“My brother used to smoke cigarettes for years but wants to use vaping products to quit smoking. He says he is frustrated that purchasing cigarettes is easier than purchasing vaping products. He wishes he didn’t have to get a prescription each time. Changing the law to allow adults to buy vapes in stores would make it easier for current smokers to kick the habit for good.”