Under-21s smoking ban to be debated in Upper House

THE author of legislation to ban the sale of tobacco products to those aged under 21 says he is hopeful it will win the support of the parliament.

Premier Will Hodgman yesterday said the Liberals did not support the amended legislation. It has the backing of Labor and the Greens.

Legislative Council member Ivan Dean’s Public Health Amendment (Prevention of Sale of Smoking Products to Underage Persons) Bill will be debated in the Upper House today.

The Bill bans sale of smoking products to people under the age of 21, including tobacco and electronic vaping devices. The present age is 18.

Mr Dean said briefings were held on the Bill yesterday.

“I’m hoping that we can get that support, what a wonderful thing for the state to have Liberals and Labor and the Greens and others supporting it moving forward,” Mr Dean said.

“It’s a wonderful news story for the youth in this state, who are struggling at the present time through not only the smoking and a health issue, but the financial issues it brings with it.

“I’m confident, but not overconfident. I’d like to think it will pass, but you never know. We’ve consulted with all of the people involved in this, many times not just once.”

Mr Dean, who in 2014 proposed a ban on selling tobacco products to anyone born after the year 2000, said public support for the Bill was huge.

“We’ve had 78 per cent support in the last survey that was done here,” he said. “Public support is overwhelming. We can’t we sit back and stick our heads in the sand and pretend nothing’s happening.”

Mr Hodgman said he welcomed debate on the issue.

“We’re not inclined to support the legislation but we welcome it being brought forward as part of a larger debate that we think can and should happen nationally to ensure that this policy has the greatest possible impact and effect and also complements the work we are doing here to reduce smoking rates,” he said.

Minderoo Foundation lobbyist Bruce Mansfield was among those briefing MPs.

“The evidence is coming out of the USA now, where they had over 50 per cent of the population in 18 states already passing T21 legislation,” he said. “What we’re seeing now is this legislation does work.”