‘Need it’: Vapers plea for leniency

Former heavy smokers have told a senate inquiry how switching to vaping was a “miracle” that helped them curb their deadly habit, as they pleaded for greater protections for legitimate e-cigarette users.

With legislation currently before the parliament seeking to crack down on the disposable vape black market by making e-cigarettes prescription-only, senators on Thursday heard from a panel of independent vaping store owners.

Jacqueline Munn, Craig Jackman and Greg Isaacs all opened their stores after discovering vaping had helped them or a love one kick the habit of heavy smoking, and said they had helped thousands of others do the same.

But they said the smoking cessation tool – which experts told senators on Wednesday was an effective “fourth line of defence” – was at risk if the legislation proceeded as it currently stands.

They said the black market had been allowed to run unchecked for so long, putting legitimate vaping at risk, and told senators they would be forced to close their businesses if the legislation is passed.

“We only ever wanted to do the right thing,” Ms Munn said.

‘Need it’: Vapers plea for leniency

Mr Jackman, who described himself as smoking “a pack of 60 a day” until he found vaping, said the Bill “as it stands, won’t work”.

“Everyone has the right to choose how they quit smoking,” he said.

He and Ms Munn, whose partner was a heavy smoker before discovering vapes, both said they had deterred people who were “just wanting to try vaping”.

“I’m not interested in helping people start vaping. This is about people quitting smoking,” Ms Munn said.

The vaping store owners said they had strict guardrails around who purchased their products, and required age checks for anyone who looked younger than 25.

“I’ve no interest in selling to young people,” Mr Jackman said.

Justin Leary, who was also a heavy smoker before he switched to vaping, said it had been an “absolute miracle” for him.

But, he was critical of the restrictions the legislation would place on flavours.

If the Bill were to be passed in its current form, the only flavours prescription-nicotine could be sold in would be menthol or tobacco.

“Flavours do enhance the experience of quitting or switching to vaping,” Mr Leary said.

Earlier, the Australian Council of State School Organisation told the inquiry that teachers and school staff were struggling with how to deal with the rising number of children vaping, including in the classroom.

Dianne Giblin, the chief executive of the council, said taking a vape away often led to conflict with the teacher, and there needed to be greater wraparound support for children.

She said better education around vapes would help get children off vapes, but pointed to the limited resources that were failing to meet the demand.

“There needs to be an upsurge of professional learning for teachers, because often young people go to them first and if the teachers are not knowing or not understanding, young people will go to other sources – which is usually social media,” she said.