The Australian Government yesterday has backed down after announcing a crack-down on the importation of nicotine vaping juice.
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Tamworth vaper Kate McGrath welcomed the news, calling the ban nothing more than a 'political stunt' rather than an informed decision based on health concerns.
The announcement was also met with outrage from many last week, including the Legalise Vaping Australia, who on Sunday "raised a vape to all of the Australians who lifted their voices against this policy."
Ms McGrath said the benefits of vaping for her as opposed to smoking were two-fold: for health and wealth.
I think the fact they don't know all of the health impacts of vaping is all the more reason why it needs to be available and regulated by Australian standards.
- Kate McGrath
"When I was smoking, I spent about $40 a day ... that ongoing cost was just $4 a week with vaping," she explained.
The fact she had battled for years with smoking, trying "absolutely everything" traditionally offered to quit makes her question why the government hasn't already looked further in to vaping.
"I think the fact they don't know all of the health impacts of vaping is all the more reason why it needs to be available and regulated by Australian standards," she said.
"Currently the only option is to import it from overseas, and I will make a point of buying from NZ because they have regulation other countries don't.
"To be clear, I don't think anyone who supports vaping supports it as a recreational thing, it's around that harm minimisation."
Tamworth doctor Daniel Rankmore from Barton Lane Practice said it was unlikely the ban, which has been postponed until next year, would have any detrimental effects on smokers' and vapers' health in Australia.
"I'm not saying there is no role [for vaping], but it comes with a whole bunch of other problems which we are only just discovering," he explained.
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He hasn't seen vaping used as a method of quitting, and hasn't recommended it to his patients.
"The traditional nicotine replacements we use are the patches, gums, sprays, things that have been established and regulated."
Tobacconist shop owner Grahame Cook said the demand for vaping in town was minimal, selling only five or six vapers a week.
While it is illegal to sell nicotine juice in Australia, he says the demand isn't there for them to be concerned about sales dropping.
