‘Joke of a country’: Australians caught with vapes in ACT face fines up to $32k

Sky News contributor Evelyn Rae has labelled Australia as “a joke of a country” over criminal penalties relating to nicotine vape possession in the ACT.
Those caught with an unprescribed vape in the ACT can be fined 320 times more than if you are caught with a gram of heroin.
Current legislation means individuals could be fined up to $32,000 or face two years in prison for possessing nicotine vapes.
“It is very clear the government do not care for our health,” Ms Rae said.
“Obviously they care about money and how do they make money? By regulating this industry.”

[@adawg3032]

I quit cigs with vape. My health improved massively.

[@ClownBiden]

But yet it’s ok to go to a drug den in Australia . Make it make sense

[@shamelesskindness]

Drugs will never be off the streets. Remove the police and the drugs will decline

[@agentsmithmememe]

Government "Smoking is bad",also Government "We love the taxes we get from the Tobacco Industry"

[@ZELJKO472]

More total control micromanagement of everyone. Next ban of hunting knives and any sports knives ie the type u get from BCF

[@MedicalW420]

Australia - we hate tax, government- ok here is medical nicotine which we will help pay for. Australia- WTF WHY ISN'T TOBACCO MEDICAL, WE WANT IT TAXED LIKE TOBACCO. yep this country is fucked

[@user-vs8yj8oy2v]

They're decriminalising heroin, cocaine,MDMA ECT in Canberra that's what I heard when I was working there latter half of 23...how they gonna stop vaping

[@XavierAnderson-eg5fp]

I quit smoking with vaping and 3500 less chemicals then a cigarette the government has lost there brains.

[@mrwarren777]

Government have no brains

[@johnkauppi7078]

There is no law banning and penalising the public our politicians don't love. Ban this, ban that, ban, ban, ban. No other country in the world behaves like this. Our politicians treat us like we are children or we are the enemy. How about we ban lying by politicians and make that a prosecutable offence. Eh? What about that?

[@MedicalW420]

Australia is behind the rest of the world and we actually had THE MOST FREEDOM, vapes didn't have tax but MEDICAL REBATES. YEAH and the black market still wins, only people that fucked it up didn't buy legally

[@agentsmithmememe]

The Nanny State in full swing now

[@mrthoms0n1]

They should start calling it something stronger cause Australia is far from being a free country. "Nanny" kinda suggests being taken care of. NOBODY is benefiting from these moronic regulations. Meth is running the rural areas and lgbt mafia runs the cities.

[@evil17]

At 62 I have been smoking at a medium - heavy rate since I was 8yo, cannabis since 15yo, so I have made an effort the last 10 years to reduce my tobacco intake by adding more pot to each cig I roll, and I think it is working!

[@Martin_Priesthood]

😂🤣🤯🤯

[@MedicalW420]

It's the same thing, for cannabis a dry HERB vape is a must. Otherwise your only getting 10-30% of your cannabis while most the high you feel is just lack of oxygen.

[@Martin_Priesthood]

@@MedicalW420 🤣😂

[@thedreadedsyntholbaby763]

you must be one of those stoned seniors that cant drive

[@brendandurham5878]

The tobacco industry just won.

[@joeybrown3583]

And government.

[@lispyDribbler]

The govt is better off than tobacco companies.

[@MedicalW420]

Um do you see what vapers push? Without tobacco we wouldn't have vaping (well actually we would) Every pro vaping fact just talks shit about tobacco/government while avoiding vaping, guess what anti vapers push? VAPING FACTS , vapers respond with but but but tobacco. Bitch shut up about Tobacco as the people only want vaping facts, oh but I quit cigarettes.

[@petero9952]

You vill obey, or else. Just vait until Albo gives himself emergency powers, you ain't seen nothing, nothing yet.

[@lindastone6868]

Vaping helped me give up smoking, and when I switched to nicotine free vape, vaping!

[@turbyoulance]

so your still smoking and destroying your lungs ?

[@MedicalW420]

Guitars went electric, cars are going electric and so is tobacco. none of this is quitting but if anything more efficient.

[@vinceveloce9897]

An expert at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital pleaded with the government not to ban vaping as his patients were able to quit smoking tobacco with it. The government delayed the ban date by six months and then implemented the ban, why? I too quit cigarettes via vaping and then the ban forced me back to smoking.

[@MedicalW420]

@@vinceveloce9897 over the years we have got many bans pushed back, every few years people would buy out all the shops. Is it going to happen this Time? The government never ACTS so people have stopped taking them seriously. People love the black market and always have over our LEGAL Vape shops

[@vinceveloce9897]

@@MedicalW420 All I know is I used to buy my flavoured nicotine juice from a shop and it has been banned so can you blame someone for going to the black market?

[@davidrhodes7655]

Better off smoking pot

[@MedicalW420]

Vaping pot, we don't say better off burning alcohol 😂

[@karennewberry4694]

Watched a very interesting video about tobacco not being deadly and addictive, but it was the 100's of chemicals added in the processing that were the nasties. Unfortunately didnt save the info .

[@MedicalW420]

Lots of crazy will try anything to make the addiction sound better

[@juliannwalker809]

Thank you for drawing attention to this hypocrisy.

[@PABYT506]

shame Australia Shame!

[@vinceveloce9897]

An expert at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital pleaded with the government not to ban vaping as his patients were able to quit smoking tobacco with it. The government delayed the ban date by six months and then implemented the ban, why? I too quit cigarettes via vaping and then the ban forced me back to smoking.

[@ceelee1736]

What a joke! If your going to ban vapes based on the alledged harm they do and leave coventional tobacco on the market, there is something seriously wrong with this picture. Kids shouldn't get their hands on alcohol, kids shouldn't get their hands on meth, kids shouldn't get their hands on knives, yet look at them go. 🤦‍♀️

[@justachipn3039]

Au... You can *ONLY* do what we tell you YOU can do !!! Government commands you... you DO NOT control the Gov 🤣🤣

[@MedicalW420]

Well no, an industry can't run without customers. It's a matter of supporting your own businesses/people but as most things people would Rather but a Chinese product. This goes much deeper than vaping and a lot of people send their money overseas, HOWEVER if the GOVERNMENT buys/sell something to CHINA the people go MAD. Talk about double standards

[@hughmiller925]

What a pathetic joke, none of the supposed so called laws have made any difference, zero, zilch, Nada.

[@mrwarren777]

I’m a ex heroin addict and have been to so many funerals due to drug overdoses, heroin will take you out eventually you run out of luck? And vaping will it’s laughable what clowns in parliament are doing?

[@joeybrown3583]

Follow the taxes.

[@MedicalW420]

Supply/demand, you can make vaping FREE and people will still buy top dollar disposables. I legitimately know this because I do give away FREE Diy e liquids, nah it's not the same they say

[@nicethings2070]

What's with Australia and fines. I don't have a problem with being fined for doing the wrong thing, however $32,000 could simply be $300. Same with releasing balloons $990 could be $150. I'm sure the individual will learn without bankrupting them, and forcing them onto the streets.

[@agentsmithmememe]

The Country is bankrupt,got to get their money from somewhere

[@mrthoms0n1]

I remember having worked over the weekend to make some extra money for my visa toll and having lost all of it on Sunday evening when I took a right turn a bit too late on an empty street and overstayed the red light by about 0.05 sec, while returning to the warehouse. Stuff like this can make you pick a different job, one where you don't depend on driving.

[@Terkini-pr1nj]

If you don't agree . Why you don't sue executive government to court ?

[@wwrite5999]

“There’s few things the government touches that we’re better off for” 👏👏100%

[@AWF1000]

I live in Tasmania. I was vaping in Hobart while a police officer walked by. The majority of them just don't give a stuff. Also I hate disposables. That is the reason why responsible adults have to suffer because of the stupid kids decision to take on those dodgy devices.

[@aaronhopkins6697]

One word " WTF"

[@ChantellH-ut7vk]

Madness

[@TheTruckdriver999]

Geez what party’s does Ross greenwood have 😜

[@Prognosis__]

Monopoly game playing party

[@Prognosis__]

Easy…tax vapes…government will love it

[@crispyzombieanimation5348]

Well I brought some nicotine patches to help get off the smokes, 7 patches "a weeks supply: for $33! it's a complete ripoff!

[@PeterBinns]

great, can't believe it.... free to air was good.

[@gregoryellsmore2095]

One at a time please!

[@Prognosis__]

Greenwood brings up the jabby conversation 😂 I’m sure the bloke is on his 5th booster

[@ianlister245]

....so ross is the spin king.

[@evil17]

I just put a cone or 2 in every cig I roll

[@AussiePom]

The late Irish comedian Dave Allen was a smoker and when he gave up he became a strident anti smoker having a go at people who blew their smoke on him. Smokers would say to him but you drink alcohol don't you? and Dave would reply, Yes but I don't piss on you.

[@thedreadedsyntholbaby763]

vapes still sold at qld tobacconists

[@nenadcubric2663]

Police State, even as Adult you live in Kindergarten

[@LuciferBlack-zp8lr]

🤔 The Bondi 7 must be empty 🩸, sky's 🦟🦟🦟🦟🦟 have moved on....

[@Barney_Rubble247]

Seek help Lucille.

[@wilburgraham6260]

Yes Lazzo, do seek that help please, at least for those two boys sake 😱

[@BrainsIntoMonumentsisaPussy]

😊

[@GrandpaVince]

There is a new dingo flavour vape juice coming out soon and vince would risk the fine to try it

[@ianlister245]

....banned...can't get ya paws on it.

[@Prognosis__]

@@ianlister245😂 that’s good response

[@wilburgraham6260]

I need a laugh, how was that 'gym' today proggs 🤔

[@Prognosis__]

@@wilburgraham6260good..I did back and legs, listened to metal in my earphones and replied to Nicky on here

[@rustynutzz3504]

😂

[@RaisinBran-ir4iq]

Dang! You Aussies give up your guns and the government goes all totalitarian on you! Never saw that coming....

[@MedicalW420]

Fuck off with your guns, we had 6 people die from a knife attack recently which is nothing from your mass shootings It's a very sad week for Australia has this shit is very very very rare,

[@helenowen5408]

More firearms owned here now than before the stealback🍺🇦🇺

[@MedicalW420]

@@helenowen5408 yeah no problem with guns for legitimate reasons, self defense is not a reason in Australia which is what the USA cry's over. (They need guns to protect themselves from guns, Australians need to save the bullets for animals etc..)

[@RaisinBran-ir4iq]

@@helenowen5408 No offense, but the Brits say the same thing.

[@YamahaMt0]

​@@RaisinBran-ir4iq most of the world would agree the USA doesn't have many brain cells, have you heard of LAMS motorcycles? Of course not because they let beginners ride MOTO-GP performance bikes. Ah the land of the free where if you don't kill yourself someone else will 😂

[@hevvab8151]

It's all about the $$$$. Grubberment not making money off vapes unless through a prescription. Wokeness is a depressing joke....

[@MedicalW420]

Oh I didn't know Australia paid full price for medication, I must be in a movie or something because from my understanding people are asking for vapes to be available/taxed like cigarettes. Yeah the people are the joke for taxing themselves

[@Michaelkayslay]

Imaging vaping

[@CC-uq4hu]

Vaping is dangerous..I tried to give up smoking by using vapes years ago and had a heart attack. It wasn’t the nicotine vape either.

[@Scuffed_Andy]

The heart attack was the long awaited result of smoking. It had NOTHING to do with vaping.

[@ThatGuy-ze5kk]

the difference is that vapes have intentionally marketed themselves to children, so now the hammer is coming down!

[@agentsmithmememe]

ever heard of consumer choice and the free market? Prohibition never works

[@MedicalW420]

It wasn't vaping, it wasn't tobacco, it is CHINA WHO market's to children