Territory Alliance to legalise vaping in the NT if elected

THE Northern Territory could become the first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise vaping should fledgling political party Territory Alliance seize power at the upcoming election.

The Northern Territory could become the first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise vaping should fledgling political party Territory Alliance seize power at the upcoming election. Picture: IStock

THE Northern Territory could become the first jurisdiction in Australia to legalise vaping should fledgling political party Territory Alliance seize power at the upcoming election.

Territory Alliance leader Terry Mills today announced the party would introduce laws to regulate devices, flavours and nicotine used in e-cigarettes and tobacco for heating, in a bid to tackle the NT’s high rates of cigarette smoking.

Nearly one in every five Territorians are smokers, significantly higher than the national average of 13.8 per cent of the population.

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“Smoking rates are too high and the usual government policies are failing Territorians. Vaping has been shown around the world to be an effective way for people to quit smoking and I hear more and more people in the community tell me that it vaping saved their life,” Mr Mills said.

“We will put a plan in place to help people be free of cigarettes. Imagine a smoke fee NT target for 1 Jan 2041 to get people off the darts. We will use vaping to help us reach that target.

“The process of using vaping to reduce smoking rates is not new and countless countries around the world have already gone down this path. I will leave no stone unturned in the fight to improve the health of fellow Territorians and the recent COVID-19 crisis shows us just how vulnerable we are.”

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The reforms would include strict controls to ensure vaping products aren’t accessed by youth, such as bans on selling to anyone under 18 and strictly controlling advertising, where people can vape and who can sell the products.