Interview with Robert Richter KC on vaping. ABC Melbourne Drive, 15 February 2024

Leading criminal barrister Robert Richter KC says “Australia’s prohibitionist stance on vaping is a case study on how not to handle a public health challenge”.
"The prescription-only policy is complete and absolute rubbish". It has created a thriving black market run by criminals and harms the poorest people most.
He says we should follow the New Zealand model and regulate vapes like cigarettes to reduce youth access and make vapes available for adult smokers.

[@joetine7641]

Thanks Colin for sharing.

[@teemtalk]

Good to hear an intelligent voice on the subject.

[@beaujenkins2739]

Once again thank you Colin Thankyou Robert The government is terrible. I hope this gets turned around.

[@sidstevens1590]

Thank you Robert

[@davidladd9544]

Thank you Robert! and Thank you Colin for all your hard work!

[@rowdster1ify]

Thank you for common sense 👏

[@StephenThomas2529]

Thanks Colin and Robert, so much common sense being spoken here. If the gov goes ahead with it's proposals then 100% there will be a huge black market in vapes,niccotene and vape juice. This stance by the gov is ludicrous and stinks of corruption.

[@brienstuart9064]

Reeks of corruption , the stench is so bad it can be caught in the breeze in Melbourne & Sydney from the ACT

[@Timic83tc]

Thank you Robert!

[@jesslanceford]

Thanks Robert! As you said it costs a fortune to smoke. It was costing me $300 a fortnight smoking cigarettes but vaping it only costs around $50 a fortnight. This is why they are doing this.

[@toms4097]

It’s all about the money & this ever changing woke society

[@MindfullyHuman]

And what does "woke" have to do with the vape ban? If it was about "woke", cigarettes would be banned.

[@toms4097]

@@MindfullyHumanexactly what I said. The world, society, is changing and governments are making decisions to please “Karens” and to look politically correct, even when it makes no sense to do so.

[@abastard]

Kids have always been able to get smokes, (you can't stop that), anyone who says different is dreaming. Decide now, do we want these kids to vape or smoke?

[@matthewspencer7849]

Of course, it forcing them under the ground, in the last three weeks, I found three separate people that are willing to sell them to me under the table not even in shops so yes it will be going underground they're not going anywhere and that's a good thing... the vape they have available for you at the chemist are not fit for purpose either they do not satiate your cravings and the ban on flavour is silly as well because at the end of the day we do not want people anywhere near anything that reminds them of smoking. They should have whatever flavour they want whether that's mango or fruitcake or whatever it doesn't matter give them what they want and get them off the smokes. I've got absolutely no intention of ever quitting Vaping and I'm certainly not going on the government vape because as I said, they are not fit for purpose, and that's even if you can find a chemist that is willing to sell you one, and at the same time same time you can actually find a doctor that knows what they're talking about and is willing to write you a script for it in the first place just ridiculous. 95% less harmful than cigarettes And this is got nothing to do with protecting the children if they really wanted to protect the children that regulated properly so we can buy our products and we can keep it out of their hands simple as that as well !Nuff said!

[@MickDoolan]

Whats the kc mean?

[@drcolinmendelsohn]

Kings Counsel. He is a Silk, or very senior barrister

[@RedBarron14]

Thanks Colin. And also Robert. Nice to see someone appointed silk raise their voice. Our Australian Government have their own self obsessed and opinion on vaping. 40 years+ I've smoked now vaped for 4 years. Without vaping I break my promise to my daughter and family i won't smoke. Our government in Australia quite simply fail in duty of care. The psychological distress they put on adults using vaping nictotine is enormous. Their woeful pharmacy based model, with annual prescription is a backward and pathetic approach. The current approach and attempt at control to the issues at hand in vaping waves a red flag. #vapingsaveslives 🤍 #vapingsavedmylife