ADA NSW has welcomed new laws banning the use of e-cigarettes in smoke-free areas, with President Dr Neil Peppitt saying the legislation would protect the health of everyone in the community.

“Research shows there are potential health risks from exposure to e-cigarette vapours,” Dr Peppitt said. “We congratulate the NSW Parliament for moving to safeguard people’s health by introducing this legislation.”

NSW Parliament this week passed the Smoke-free Environment Amendment Bill 2018, which will prevent people using e-cigarettes in public spaces and on public transport. 

The laws, which come into effect in July, mean vaping will be subject to the same restrictions as smoking. Smoking is banned on public transport, in all enclosed public spaces including shopping centres, cinemas and libraries, and in certain outdoor spaces.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the NSW legislation matched laws in most other Australian states.

“The new laws do not ban people from using e-cigarettes,” Mr Hazzard said. “Put simply, where you are not allowed to smoke cigarettes, you now cannot vape either.”

Mr Hazzard said “the jury is still out on the alleged benefits of e-cigarettes. The medical advice from Australian authorities is we need to err on the side of caution”. 

ADA NSW was one of 22 prominent professional bodies and health organisations, led by the Heart Foundation, which last year urged the NSW Government to ban the use of e-cigarettes in places where smoking is not allowed.

ADA NSW has also partnered with the Cancer Institute NSW as part of their One Small Step – One Big Difference campaign, working to decrease rates of smoking in NSW. 

Dental health professionals play a key role in identifying oral health issues associated with smoking, and the campaign supports them to refer patients who smoke to the NSW Quitline.

For more information about the campaign visit www.cancerinstitute.org.au/quitline-referral

Download the media release