‘Sensible’: Minister defends vaping backflip

Health Minister Mark Butler says pharmacists won’t be forced to sell vapes after backlash from the industry over a deal with the Greens to water down vaping reforms.

He said the decision to stock vapes would be made by individual pharmacies.

“This is, I think, a sensible balance between access and serious reform to return this product to its original intention, which was therapeutic,” Mr Butler told reporters in Canberra.

“Of course pharmacies aren’t owned by the government so they can’t be directed by the government what they sell.

“Some pharmacies choose to offer methadone treatment, some don’t.

“This will be a decision by individual pharmacies.”

Mr Butler on Monday secured support from the minor party for Labor’s contentious plan that originally would have limited vape access to prescription-only pharmacy sales.

While the ban on the sale of non-prescription vape sales will be in place from July 1 as originally intended, from October individuals will be able to purchase vapes from behind the counter following a conversation with a pharmacist about the health harms associated with vaping.

The Bill is due to go before the Senate shortly.

The Pharmacy Guild has reacted angrily to the proposal, branding the move as “insulting” and urged the government to change course on the vaping crackdown.

“Everyone wants to keep illegal vapes out of the hands of kids and teenagers, but the Senate wants pharmacists to stock vapes next to children’s Panadol, cold and flu medicine, and emergency contraception,” they said

Mr Butler said the Guild had known the vaping laws were coming and had the opportunity to make a submission and appear before the Senate committee inquiry into the Bill.

“I understand it didn’t make a submission and didn’t attend a hearing,” he said

“That’s their right.”

More to come