'Un-Australian' Labubu-themed vape shop opens across the road from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office in Sydney
The newly opened store, named 'Labubu Stop & Shop', is located merely steps down the road from Mr Albanese's office in the suburb of Marrickville.
Concerning to locals is the depiction of the popular children's toy smoking a cigarette on the shop front, amid the federal government's vape reforms aimed at reducing the health risks of vaping among young people.
Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne on Instagram said he sent council compliance staff to the shop on Thursday to 'act on' its opening.
"This is beyond belief," Mr Byrne wrote alongside a photo of the shop.
"This is exactly why we are fighting to have the Government introduce a requirement for a development application (DA) to be submitted and approved before these shops can open.
"At the moment all they have to submit is a change of use application (a basic form)."
It comes as the NSW government this month tabled illegal vaping reforms in parliament, which could see a penalty of more than $1.5 million and seven years imprisonment for the commercial possession of illicit tobacco.
Mr Byrne said he welcomes the state's proposed legislation to crack down on black market vapes and stores, but he is still fighting for more council DA powers to "stop the spread of these shops" in Sydney.
In NSW, councils have limited power to stop vape stores from opening, which is why Mr Byrne has, for more than a year, proposed the DA plan which would see assessment and potential refusal of further stores.
The Labubu Stop & Shop debate turned to Reddit, where one person quipped it could have at least displayed some relevance to Australia.
"How un-Australian," they wrote of the Labubu reference, adding: "They should have Bluey and Bingo smashing down a durrie."
The plush doll originated from Hong Kong, China, before soaring in popularity worldwide, while Bluey is a popular Aussie kids' show.
"Imagine not only vaping but choosing a shop with a cartoon Labubu puffing away on the sign," another person said.
Others argued while the toy is predominantly for children, it is possessed mainly by adults; therefore, the store would not appeal to young people.
"Labubu isn't really a 'children's toy'; most people with them are grown-ups," one person said.
"Plus, there are smoke shops with Mario and Luigi smoking blunts, and no one complains."
The Marrickville shop is one of many which has made little effort to disguise the sale of vapes even after vaping reforms passed in 2024.
The reforms limited vape sales to pharmacies and mandated consultations with pharmacists, effectively leading to black market boom.
However, recent statistics show young people are smoking and vaping more than they were before the reforms came into effect.
The data revealed more than one in 10 adults aged 18-24 are smoking cigarettes, marking a 36 per cent increase in less than a year.
Sky News.com.au has contacted Darcy Byrne and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's offices for comment.
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