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ABC News
8 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
More than 10 million vapes seized in Australia since import ban
Almost half a billon dollars worth of vapes have been taken off the street since new laws came into force 18 months ago as research shows fewer young Australians are taking up vaping. The Therapeutic Goods Authority and Australian Border Force (ABF) said they have seized more than 10 million vapes since they were banned at the start of 2024. The federal government said the street value was worth almost half a billion dollars. In the past year, other reforms have also come into place like limiting the sale of vapes to pharmacies and banning vaping advertising. ABF Assistant Commissioner Tony Smith said authorities were determined to continue disrupting the trade. "It's a market that targets our communities including our children," he said. "[It] sends profits into the hands of organised crime, profits that are used to cause further harm through intimidation tactics, arson, firearms, drugs and even cyber crime." Assistant Commissioner Smith said the ABF had "ramped up" its engagements with countries in South Asia and South East Asia, and has officers working in the United Kingdom, Thailand and Hong Kong to stem the flow of illegal vaping products entering Australia. "In the last financial year, ABF officers made on average 120 detections a day, contributing to 10 million vapes, 2.5 billion cigarette sticks and 435 tonnes of illicit tobacco," he said. Meanwhile, government-funded research from the Cancer Council and University of Sydney has found fewer young people are taking up vaping. The Generation Vape Research Project conducted an anonymous survey of 3,000 young Australians. It showed from 2023 to mid-2025, vaping rates among 18 to 24-year-olds dropped from 20 to 18 per cent. From 2023 to late 2024, the number of 14 to 17-year-olds vaping decreased from 18 per cent to 15 per cent. It also found those who had never smoked or even had a few puffs of a cigarette was at its highest rate on record at 94 per cent. "The peak vaping rates appear to be behind us," University of Sydney Professor Becky Freeman said. She said young people used to think vaping was harmless and perceived differently to "your grandfather's stinky cigarette", but attitudes have shifted. "They can't believe that something that they were just using at parties for fun on the weekends, that they were told if they took to music festivals would be a great way to enhance their good time. "Now their wellbeing is being impacted, they're waking up with a vape under their pillow." Dr Freeman said law enforcement, education, mass media campaigns and quitting support needed to continue. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said import controls contributed to the decline in youth vaping rates. "It looks like we have turned a corner and at least stopped the explosion in vaping among young Australians that was emerging as one of the most significant public health challenges for our community," he said. Mr Butler said some vaping products still "leak" through the border. "From the time we put this ban in place we never pretended we'd be able to stop every vape coming in," he said. "But we do know that it is harder to get your hands on a disposable vape … that's led to a very significant increase in the price of vapes where they are still accessible, and that's having a positive impact on young people."
West Australian
9 hours ago
- Health
- West Australian
Vape use among teens dropping for the first time as government regulation stems access
Rates of vaping among young people have started to drop for the first time in signs tighter government regulation is turning the tide. Latest figures from the Generation Vape study reveal 85 per cent of Australian teens aged 14-17 have never vaped, up from 82 per cent in 2023. The proportion of young people who have never smoked is also at its highest too, at 94 per cent. It's a promising sign teens are turning away from nicotine products, with chief investigator of the study Professor Becky Freeman saying the 'social acceptability of vaping over the past few years has shifted'. 'Young people tried vaping as it was marketed to them as fun, 'safe' and full of great flavours, but increasingly young people report the realities of vaping addiction and harm to their wellbeing,' Professor Freeman said. Access to vape products has also declined since the introduction of federal vape laws in July 2024 that aim to limit the sale of vapes to pharmacies only, regardless of nicotine content. About one in four young people reported purchasing their own vape, down from roughly one in three before the laws came into play. Tobacconist and vape shops remained a major source of vape sales with about one in three teens buying from such a retailer, highlighting ongoing difficulties with regulation and enforcement. Chair of the Cancer Council's tobacco issues committee Alecia Brooks said the latest figures were encouraging indicators that vaping laws are protecting young people, but that some retailers 'continue to exploit young people'. 'Some tobacconists and vape shops are still blatantly selling illegal vapes to young people,' Ms Brooks said. It comes as calls to WA's poisons hotline from concerned parents worried their babies have been exposed to vapes have tripled just six months into the year. Speaking on the matter in Budget Estimates earlier this month, Health Minister Meredith Hammat said the spike in calls reflected 'a growing awareness in the community about the harmful nature of vapes'. Since January 2024 the Therapeutic Goods Administration and Australian Border Force have seized more than 10 million illicit vapes with a street value of nearly half a billion dollars. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said 'vaping rates for young Australians have now turned the corner'. 'Our education and prevention campaigns as well as support to deter people from taking up vaping and smoking or to quit are making a difference,' he said.
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Health
- Perth Now
War against vapes not over yet despite falling rates
Shifting social norms are slowing the number of young people being hooked on vapes, but Australia isn't out of the woods yet, an expert has warned. A survey of almost 15,000 14 to 17-year olds found the number of teens vaping fell from 18 to 15 per cent since February 2023. The report released by the Cancer Council's Generation Vape Project on Wednesday found rates of e-cigarettes among 30 to-59-year-olds have halved, while fewer than one-in-five 18 to 24-year-olds used vapes. But despite the lowering rates, Cancer Council chair Alecia Brooks said the work to reduce smoking rates were far from over. "What this data shows us is that we can't really be complacent around this, we have to keep the pressure on," she told AAP. "People should not be able to make a profit off somebody else's health." Vape shops and tobacconists are leading a rise in black market sales of vapes, Ms Brooks said. The report found the number of vapes being bought by young people at stores surged to almost 35 per cent of all sales. This is despite laws only allowing vapes to be sold in pharmacies. But the number of people vaping is shrinking and one reason is because of social media, according the report. What was once a place that painted a fantastical snapshot of the flavoured air devices now is exposing less of the products online. Feelings of shame and embarrassment are poignant and the term "vaper" has became increasingly stigmatised, the report said. The report's chief investigator Becky Freeman said young people were realising the "harm it's doing to their wellbeing", which had led to a decline in vaping rates. Health Minister Mark Butler said education and prevention campaigns also helped deter people from taking up vaping or smoking. "Vaping rates for young Australians have now turned the corner," he said. "It may take time to see a big decrease in vaping and smoking, but we are here for the long haul for a healthier Australia." The Australian Border Force and the Therapeutic Goods Administration have also seized almost $500 billion worth of illicit vapes since January 2024. Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in Australia and is estimated to kill more than 24,000 Australians each year. Lifeline 13 11 14 Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'No excuse' after man exposes himself, hurls phone at Border Force
Drunk Aussies warned after boozy travellers wreak havoc at airport. Australian Border Force. By Sarah Falson Updated July 16 2025 - 12:56pm, first published 12:28pm So you've had a few drinks on the plane coming home from Bali, but that doesn't mean you should make a wally out of yourself and chuck a wobbly at customs. Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue reading All articles from our website The digital version of Today's Paper All other in your area This is the (highly paraphrased) message from the Australian Border Force (ABF) after a string of "unacceptable incidents" at Perth International Airport recently. According to the force, in one incident, a passenger returned on a flight from Kuala Lumpur and appeared to be "heavily intoxicated". It is alleged the man became disruptive and "swore repeatedly" during a baggage search carried out by ABF officers. He then "exposed himself by pulling his pants down on numerous occasions before throwing his mobile phone which hit an officer". Australian Federal Police (AFP) reportedly removed the man from the airport and after an investigation charged the man with common assault, disorderly behaviour in public and two counts of indecent acts in public. The man pleaded guilty in the South Hedland Magistrates Court on May 13, 2025, to the four offences and was fined $1500 and ordered to pay court costs. "There is no excuse for abuse or violence towards Australian Border Force (ABF) officers," ABF has said. In another incident on April 15, 2025, a WA traveller returning from Thailand allegedly became aggressive after being selected for a routine baggage search. When ABF advised they would be seizing a carton of cigarettes the man failed to declare, he allegedly punched a wall, causing a hole. Australian Border Force smart gates. AFP was called and interviewed the man before escorting him from the terminal. He was summonsed to appear in Perth Magistrates Court in August to face a charge of criminal damage, contrary to section 444(1)(b) of the Criminal Code (WA). ABF Assistant Commissioner Chris Waters said this was the third reported incident in a few months, highlighting a disturbing and growing trend of abuse toward ABF officers. "Our officers are hardworking, dedicated men and women, and the ABF has zero tolerance towards members of the public who abuse or assault officers while they are carrying out their lawful duties," Assistant Commissioner Waters said. "Like any of us when we go to work, at the very minimum, our officers deserve to be treated with respect and common courtesy. "Verbal or physical abuse will not be tolerated. "There is no excuse. No matter how drunk or tired you are after your flight, we will act swiftly with our law enforcement partners if you behave this way." ABF confirmed the issue of unruly behaviour at customs is not exclusive to Perth airport but is Australia-wide, and they believe the issue is under-reported. The ABF processes around 750,000 passengers entering and leaving Australia's borders through airports every week. Provisional data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows 43.3 million people arrived and left through Australian Border Force (air and sea) during the 2024-25 financial year. Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life. My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
ABC News
16 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
Federal politics live: More than 10 million illicit vapes seized in government crackdown
More than 10 million illicit vapes have been seized by Australian Border Force in the past year, the federal health minister says. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit the Great Wall of China later today. Follow all the updates in our live blog.
