The Victorian government has this week introduced a new bill to state parliament proposing to grant police the power to shut down shops selling illegal tobacco products for up to 90 days. However, the proposed legislation does not include illegal vaping products.
Quit Victoria director Rachel Andersen said illegal vapes are often sold alongside illicit tobacco and remain widely accessible in the community. She argued that the government should broaden the scope of the legislation to include vaping products under enforcement measures.
Under current laws, vaping products in Victoria can only be legally sold through pharmacies. Since the federal government tightened vaping regulations in 2024, the Australian Border Force has seized around 19.4 million illegal vaping products, worth more than A$1 billion. In the same period, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also removed approximately 2.2 million illegal vaping products from circulation.
University of Melbourne public health professor Michelle Jongenelis said Victoria is clearly lagging in enforcement efforts against vaping. She noted that the state currently has only 14 officers responsible for inspecting retail outlets, compared with more than 200 in Queensland. The Victorian government has said it plans to increase the number of inspectors to 42 in the current financial year.
Meanwhile, Quit has launched a new campaign titled “Every Vape is a Hit to Your Health”, using real-life experiences from people affected by vaping to warn young people about its health risks. Participants shared accounts of chest pain, migraines, and emergency hospital visits linked to vaping.
Commentary
The vaping issue is no longer just an enforcement problem but a broader public health challenge. Increasing research also shows that nicotine-containing vapes are not safer than traditional cigarettes.
While the Victorian government’s new legislation aims to strengthen action against illicit tobacco sales, the exclusion of illegal vaping products suggests that regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep pace with rapid market changes. Vapes have also become a major source of illicit nicotine products, meaning that relying solely on restricting legal supply channels is clearly insufficient.
For young people, vaping products are often packaged attractively and come in a wide range of flavours, while social media influence and peer pressure further normalise their use. This can lead to an underestimation of their addictive nature and health risks. If governments truly want to reduce the impact of vaping on young people, they will need not only stronger public education campaigns, but also more comprehensive legislation, increased enforcement resources, and tighter control over illicit supply chains.