New Bill would update state laws to treat e-cigarettes the same as tobacco

E-CIGARETTES would be banned in non-smoking areas such as outdoor dining venues, workplaces or vehicles transporting children if new laws are approved.

E-CIGARETTES would be banned in non-smoking areas such as outdoor dining venues, workplaces or vehicles transporting children if new laws are approved.

Retailers would not be allowed to sell the vaporisers to children, nor advertise, promote or give away e-cigarette products.

A Bill to be put to Parliament today by Labor health spokesman Chris Picton will update state laws to treat e-cigarette vaporisers the same as tobacco cigarettes.

Both Labor and the Liberals attempted to change the law last year but MPs failed to pass the legislation before Parliament rose ahead of the March state election.

E-cigarettes are unregulated in South Australia and can be freely advertised and displayed, used in enclosed public spaces and sold to children.

It is believed about 20,100 South Australians use e-cigarettes – or about 1.2 per cent of the population – and the devices are growing in popularity.

Mr Picton said he had urged the Liberal Government to re-introduce laws to regulate e-cigarettes but it had not done so since taking office.

Labor health spokesman Chris Picton’s Bill will update state laws to treat e-cigarette vaporisers the same as tobacco cigarettes.

“The new Government is moving too slow when it comes to regulating these potentially toxic products – products that can currently be sold to our kids,” he said.

“There’s nothing standing in the way of the uninterrupted sale of e-cigarettes in South Australia, and we think that needs to be addressed right now.”

The battery-operated devices vaporise a refillable cartridge of nicotine solution to create a vapour that the user inhales, simulating the action of smoking.

Some use flavoured liquids without nicotine.

E-cigarettes have been sold in Australia for about four years but legislation governing their sale and use varies around the nation. Western Australia has banned the sale of vaporisers.

Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have put restrictions in place and Victoria will regulate the devices from August.

A South Australian parliamentary committee held an inquiry into e-cigarettes in 2016, prompted by the concerns about the potential long-term health risks.