St Lukes welcomes today’s lower house passing of the State Government’s bill to restrict the availability of vapes and vaping products in Tasmania.
As a not-for-profit private health insurer, St Lukes strongly believes this legislation demonstrates a genuine commitment from our Parliament to enshrine long-term health benefits for the Tasmanian community.
The damaging medley of harmful effects vaping products are having on our kids is well documented.
This includes their impact on brain development and mental health, causing increased rates of depression and anxiety, as well as preying on young people who are more susceptible to developing addictive behaviours.
This is a blatant and shameless exploitation of some of our most vulnerable young people by big tobacco.
With this bill, our elected representatives have the opportunity to put preventative health first and help the community avoid another pathway to addiction, as well as negative health impacts and chronic disease.
As such, we are now urging the Upper House to put the health of Tasmanians first when they consider this legislation, and to vote accordingly.