We, the undersigned public health, medical and community organisations urge the WA Government to strengthen our laws and improve enforcement in relation to e-cigarettes (also known as vapes).
There is strong and growing evidence that vaping poses serious health risks and increases the likelihood of tobacco use. Research indicates that young people who vape are five times more likely to begin smoking.

Recent national and WA reforms have strengthened the regulation of e-cigarettes. While progress has been made, there remains concern that the tobacco and e-cigarette industries continue to market e-cigarettes to young people. Strong legislation, supported by effective enforcement, is essential in achieving lasting improvements in public health.

The WA Government has an opportunity to draw on recent legislative reforms adopted by the Commonwealth and other Australian jurisdictions to strengthen WA legislation.

To build upon and complement recent reforms, we urge the WA Government to:

• Amend state legislation to explicitly prohibit the sale and supply of e-cigarette products that are not prescribed or otherwise legally authorised, in order to aid enforcement;
• Prohibit advertising, promotion and sponsorship in relation to e-cigarette products to ensure these products cannot be promoted, regardless of whether they contain nicotine;
• Prohibit vaping in places where smoking is prohibited, to reduce the perception that vaping is normal and reduce exposure to harmful substances;
• Strengthen legislative enforcement measures and penalties to effectively deter the unlawful sale of e-cigarette products, and increase resourcing for compliance and enforcement;
• Ensure authority within state legislation to efficiently ban harmful products, including those marketed as alternatives to tobacco or e-cigarettes;
• Resist the damaging influence of the tobacco and e-cigarette industries that seek to undermine the health of our community for commercial gain.

To effectively address the vaping crisis, a comprehensive, evidence-based approach is essential. This includes legislative measures as well as public education campaigns, community engagement, implementing prevention programs (including in primary and secondary schools), supporting research, and ensuring that cessation services are accessible. Importantly, these efforts must be adequately and sustainably funded to ensure a lasting impact.

Decisive and sustained action is essential to protect young Western Australians from the harmful impacts of vaping. WA must not only keep pace with national reforms, but must also take a lead in protecting the health of future generations.