Man’s Fight To Veto Proposed E-Cig Law Change

AN ELLIOTT Heads business owner is leading the charge in the fight against a proposal that could see electronic cigarettes fall under the same laws as tobacco products.

Shane Kerrigan, who owns one of only five e-cigarette stores in Queensland, described the Bill introduced to Parliament by Health Minister Lawrence Springborg last month as “ludicrous” and has launched a petition against it.

“Electronic cigarettes contain no tobacco, no combustion and therefore no smoke,” he said.

“To group them under the Tobacco Act (2008) is absolutely crazy.”

Mr Kerrigan said after trying many ways to quit, he had kicked his 25-year smoking habit with the help of e-cigarettes and hundreds more were doing the same.

“We support tobacco regulation and we’d like to see tobacco completely banned,” he said.

“Nineteen thousand Australians die each year from smoking.”

Mr Kerrigan said he feared his business, iVape Australia, would suffer if e-cigarettes were classed as tobacco products.

“I would have very limited ability to advertise,” he said.

“It would make the alternative to smoking unavailable to the masses.

“It would basically freeze our business.”

Mr Kerrigan said nicotine, which could be used in e-cigarettes, was illegal in Queensland but at a federal level was allowed to be imported from overseas for personal use.

“Nicotine’s got a really bad name because of what we associate it with,” he said.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said e-cigarettes posed a significant danger due to the potential to use liquid nicotine in them.

“These new laws will ensure that e-cigarettes are not sold to children, not smoked in smoke-free indoor and outdoor public places, and not advertised, promoted or displayed at retail outlets,” he said.

“This early, preventive action addresses public health concerns about these products including their use in smoke-free places, the unknown health effects of use and exposure, and potential for a new market of smoking.”

Cancer Council Australia CEO Professor Ian Olver echoed the minister’s sentiments.

“There is a myth that electronic cigarettes are a threat to the tobacco industry, so they must be a good thing,” he said.

“The fact is, major tobacco companies are investing heavily in the development and promotion of electronic cigarettes.”

Mr Kerrigan’s store does not sell tobacco products, but sells tobacco flavoured liquids and the online store provides links for those who wish to import nicotine liquid for their own use.