I’m tempted to write to all the GP’s in my area too…
What a nightmare. Just because you want to stop smoking. As if it’s not hard enough as it is. It beggars belief. All the legitimate science declares it to be overwhelmingly safer than cigarettes. Absolute corruption, plain and simple. Good luck. This is a public health scandal. Not much better in the US, worse in other countries. The mind boggles.
Totally Steve, it is so frustrating!! But to keep sane I have to do something & getting angry doesn’t help.
I’ll just keep on keeping on and do what I can to try and change things.
God know if it will help but at least I won’t feel useless and I can say that at least I tried
Yay! I got some responses from some Senators and MP’s:
Tony Pasin Tony.Pasin.MP@aph.gov.au
Andrew McLachlan Senator.McLachlan@aph.gov.au
Both gave me the standard Liberal Policy response “vaping is currently regulated” blah blah blah
Senator Rex Patrick senator.patrick@aph.gov.au
“Senator Patrick has no formal position on this proposal at the moment as he has no yet had the chance to look into the legislation given the COVID-19 pandemic has taken priority over the past months. However, it is on his agenda and he will be having discussions with his advisers to best inform his decision.”
Senator Anne Ruston senator.ruston@aph.gov.au
“Thank you for taking the time to write to me to express your views. Please be assured your contribution is very much appreciated.”
Senator.Marielle.Smith@aph.gov.au
"Thank you so much for taking the time to contact Senator Smith about this issue. I will pass your comments and concerns on to the Senator. Take care and keep up the advocacy. "
This one was interesting - the response came from Amy who is a Vaper and advocating herself!
Alex Antic Senator.Antic@aph.gov.au
“Discussions will now be held in the coming months as to how best to implement a scheme for the importation of vaping products.
This is good news, as it will ensure that those who will benefit from these products can continue to do so while reducing the risk of harm to young people who might otherwise become smokers through the use of e-cigarettes.
Thanks again for taking the time to write to me regarding this issue.”
As we all know this is a absolute and complete mess.
I emailed my local MP who took nearly a month to reply, made no more effort than to regurgitate the current party lines,suggested I see my local GP to seek alternative NRTs and obviously didn’t give a @@@@ that one of her constituents was asking for help.
In fact she didn’t even reply and left it with one of her minions.
When the time arrives for the next elections I shall take joy in telling whoever asks for my vote to politely get stuffed and explain why.
My opinion is that eventually a few Doctors will offer a prescription but it will only be for a limited time and for limited product.
I also believe importation will be banned making nicotine only legally available through this route at an astronomical price via compounding chemists. That is as long as there is some sort of framework in place and Doctors actually realise it exists but I’m not even counting on that.
Currently my strategy is the obvious one plus trying to reduce my intake.
Obviously my thoughts of doom and gloom are just about worst case scenario and truly makes me believe the government cares more about tax dollars than citizens lives.
The obvious hypocrisy is that anyone over 18 can legally go and buy a carton of cigarettes and keep those tax dollars rolling in. The fact that combustible tobacco is an irrefutable killer is secondary here.
Teenagers will access tobacco products the same way they always have and the cycle continues.
The government will publicise their propaganda outlining the incorrect science and vapers will only be able to access nicotine on the black market which could be cut with anything and could severely hurt or even kill some people.
Personally I don’t consider regulations a bad thing but it has to be sensible and enable vaping products and nicotine to be legally available without the proposed non existent and rediculous red tape. It also has to keep nicotine at a price that an average person can afford.
Our only hope is that pressure is kept up and a miracle happens with the government actually listening and helping its citizens rather than just labeling us drug addicts or criminals and imposing preposterous fines.
When I actually think about it as a law abiding,tax paying citizen all I’m trying to do is to refrain from smoking and to continue enjoying vaping and all that entails.
Why should I be made to feel like a criminal? As a fully grown adult who is capable of making an informed decision why is that being forcibly removed from me and what right has anybody, be it a politician or whoever, to order me to go and buy a product that has every probability to shorten my life but not the product that has no credible science to prove its ever killed anyone. I don’t include exploding batteries or the black market oil that was used in America as they’re not attributable to vaping as I perceive it.
Battery knowledge is important but batteries are everywhere and it’s the individuals responsibility to at least have a fundamental grasp on their safe use. In regards to the deaths and illnesses caused by the oil in the pods, black market are the only two words required and strangely the Australian government is about to make the same mistake for the sake of the health of their citizens.
Absolutely ludicrous and non sensical.
I sincerely hope common sense prevails and something constructive comes out of all this and last time I heard hope wasn’t illegal… yet.
I would’ve added an emoji reaction face to your post @Gazza7 but they’re not working for me at the moment. Anyways, first time I voted at 18 I voted Labor (come from working class stock) but for the next 40 years I’ve been staunch Liberal (please forgive me). I can tell you right now, 100% guaranteed, I’ll be voting Labor next time and I’ll be letting the Libs know why. I reckon our only chance is for a change in Government and/or some pollies from all sides to realise they have a conscience and they do the right thing and support us. Yeah, what price tax revenue eh?
Problem is the local MP is labor. When she was elected I was asked by my Union representative to assist at polling stations but the truth is I honestly couldn’t due to family commitments.
But I’m very glad I didn’t now.
I hate to say it but unless something unforeseen happens Australians are going to be royally reamed by whoever is in power. I believe if a framework for taxing the s@@t out of vaping is worked upon there’s a slight possibility.
Although I must admit I’d rather see Hunt getting roasted on a spit than anyone else.The underhanded method he tried was a blatant abuse of power and probably the main reason there’s a stay of execution.
Spot on @Gazza7. I’m in purchasing and I come across changes to industry regulations, duty rates, stink bug fumigation laws etc and just before I went home today I had a quick read of an update email from one of my freight forwarding providers. I think I remember correctly (gonna check again Monday) but the Govt goons have just increased the excise on tobacco products yet again effective Sept 1st.
Get this …. the amount of excise the Aust Govt receives (charges) per stick (that’s per single cigarette) is $1.10 each. Not each packet but each cigarette! And people wonder why smokes are so expensive in Australia? No wonder they wanna ban the vape and get us all back on the durries. “There’s gold in them thar hills” as they say. Don’t worry about the health of the nation, just focus on the obscene amounts of money you can rake in. Bastards!
P.S. I’m away for a week and now emojis aren’t working (insert sad face here).
They should be sorta working. I believe this was a discord-wide issue, not necessarily one specific to here.
Vaping legislation in a nutshell…
Thanks buddy. I click on the emoji button and all I get is a “spinning wheel” like it’s trying to load them but no probs, it’ll get sorted sooner or later no doubt. In the meantime I’ll just do (ha-ha) instead of a smiley face, (aaargh) instead of frustration and so on. I wonder if inserting a Segoe UI emoji would work? Let’s try a “wink” … Looks OK. Hmmm…
Exactamundo!
Last post here about it (no need to derail)… It isn’t 100%. Sometimes it works for me, sometimes not. Probably true for everyone.
Back to topic!!
Most have probably already seen this but thought I’d post for those who might’ve missed it:
Help us to help you. Support our campaign to save vaping in Australia
ATHRA HAS LAUNCHED a fundraising campaign to ensure lifesaving vaping products remains accessible to Australian vapers and smokers. Please help us to help you. In 3 months (on 1 January 2021), you will need to visit a doctor and go to a pharmacy…
If every single one of the 520,000 #vapers in #vapingaustralia makes a $2 tax deductible donation = $1,040,000 for #athra to help ensure #vaping products remain accessible. Of course you can always donate more if you are able but every $1 counts!!
Update on advocating:
Received this via email today:
“You will be pleased to know that Senator Patrick will not be supporting the ban. He believes vaping is a harm minimisation strategy and a better alternative to smoking.”
Senator Patrick is also now running as an Independent so the big parties have lost another one
The only issue will be if Hunt tries to get it through via the GG as was his original intent.
I have at least a years worth of Nic onhand, but it will be interesting if they decide to start testing vapists in the street to see if their juice contains Nic and fine them if they didn’t get it the “proper” way…
I sure hope not, that would be a pretty rubbish situation and a complete waste of taxpayers money!
Unfortunately it wouldn’t surprise me if it did happen.
Yeah, me either… Living in SA I know how ridiculous Gov policy can be.
Yep SA Tobacco/Vaping laws suck!
Not wrong, I have to get mates in other states to buy stuff and forward it to me.
Thats a pain.
Most of mine comes from OS. I used to try to buy local but they stuffed that.
You SA too?