Media Response - Vaping

Published on 11 January 2023

Query from Channel 9 News

I’m looking to do a story about vapes and businesses selling them illegally to underage kids. I’ve spoken to police and they say it’s a council responsibility?

Is there anything you are doing in this space that we could potentially do a story on?

Any raids on businesses or even checks that we could come along to?

Response:

 Since 2017, the Tobacco Act 1987 has regulated e-cigarette products in the same way as tobacco products except that they cannot be sold from vending machines.

Councils regularly carry out education and enforcement activities on the use and sale e-cigarette products in the same way as we enforce laws around smoking and the sale of tobacco products.

This includes advising retailers that the Tobacco Act 1987 prohibits:

• the sale of e-cigarette products to people under 18 years of age

• the advertising and display of e-cigarette products at retailer outlets (some exceptions for certified specialist e-cigarette retailers and certified specialist tobacconists)

• the provision of free samples or incentives attached to the purchase of e-cigarette products (e.g. customer loyalty programs).

The sale of e-cigarettes to minors is prohibited and anyone who believes this has occurred is urged to contact Council and we will investigate.

I’m also interested in the new online tool you have for residents to report on racist incidents. Can we do a story on this if there was a case study who was willing to chat? 

Response:

 The online tool for residents to report incidents of race or religious discrimination/vilification has been offered via our website for a number of years.

The tool allows people to securely and confidentially report an incident directly to the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission.

Council has no access to these reports.

Issued: 11 January 2023

To: Channel 9 News

Quoting: Mayor Tina Samardzija