On 6 October 2020, the Senate resolved to establish a Select Committee on Tobacco Harm Reduction.

The committee will inquire into tobacco reduction strategies, with particular reference to:

1. the treatment of nicotine vaping products (electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco) in developed countries similar to Australia (such as the United Kingdom, New Zealand, the European Union and United States), including but not limited to legislative and regulatory frameworks;
2. the impact nicotine vaping products have had on smoking rates in these countries, and the aggregate population health impacts of these changes in nicotine consumption;
3. the established evidence on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation treatment;
4. the established evidence on the uptake of e-cigarettes amongst non- smokers and the potential gateway effect onto traditional tobacco products;
5. evidence of the impact of legalising nicotine vaping products on youth smoking and vaping rates and measures that Australia could adopt to minimise youth smoking and vaping;
6. access to e-cigarette products under Australia’s current regulatory frameworks;
7. tobacco industry involvement in the selling and marketing of e-cigarettes; and
8. any other related matter.

The resolution establishing the committee is available in the Journals of the Senate No. 67 - Tuesday, 6 October 2020.

The committee is due to report by 1 December 2020.

Following a resolution of the committee on 2 November 2020, and in accordance with the motion agreed by the Senate on 23 March 2020, the reporting date for the inquiry has been extended to 18 December 2020.

Submissions

Submissions are due by 5 November 2020.

Information for submitters (PDF 57KB)

The select committee concluded its inquiry when it tabled its report on 18 December 2020.