Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Leyonhjelm for his question and some notice of that question. The government currently takes an evidence based approach to the subject of e-cigarettes and vaping devices in efforts to reduce harm from tobacco. We acknowledge there are a range of studies internationally which appear to demonstrate the safety of vaporised nicotine products. But, equally, there's no conclusive evidence that can say with any certainty that these products are safe.

Make no mistake: tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death, premature death and disability in Australia, and this government remains committed to doing everything we can to reducing smoking levels. Sadly, Indigenous smoking rates, unsurprisingly, are parallel with socioeconomic opportunity rates and they remain unacceptably high at around 45 per cent compared with only some 12 per cent in the general population. As the senator indicated, that is very similar to the New Zealand example. Tobacco is the only risk factor shared by all main categories of non-communicable diseases: cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Our government has committed to reducing the rates of smoking in Indigenous communities. In February this year, Minister Ken Wyatt announced $183.7 million to continue the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program. The Tackling Indigenous Smoking program is a key part of the implementation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. I'm pleased to report that the reduction-of-smoking goals contained in this plan are all on track to be met.

The Tackling Indigenous Smoking program complements work already being done by the national Don't Make Smokes Your Story campaign. But, importantly, with New Zealand now moving to regulate e-cigarettes, we will have a live example of how this works in a very similar population across the ditch, which we'll be watching with great interest. I'm very confident that the lessons from the New Zealand experience will be heeded here in Australia.