Tuesday, 21 June 2022

 Mr ONDARCHIE (Northern Metropolitan) (18:54): (1986) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Police. Parents in Melbourne’s north are worried about their children having access to e-cigarettes. They feel let down by the Andrews Labor government, which has done nothing to crack down on the illegal selling of e-cigarettes to children, posing a greater risk to the health and wellbeing of younger people. Children as young as 12 years old have no idea they are being exposed to highly toxic, addictive and harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes, with potentially deadly long-term health effects. It is clear that vaping has become common in use, even more concerningly amongst children, and it is imperative that we do not become complacent in regulating e-cigarette products.

The action I seek from the minister is for the government to commit to extra police resources in Melbourne’s north to monitor and restrict the selling of vapes to children. Parents of children in Melbourne’s north are crying out for action to prevent children and adolescents from purchasing and using e-cigarettes. We need to keep our children safe.