Heart Foundation strongly welcomes new tobacco laws

Media release: 14 September, 2023

The Heart Foundation strongly welcomes the introduction of the Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill 2023 as a critical action to prevent and further reduce the heart health harm caused to people by tobacco products and nicotine addiction.

Smoking and vaping both present major heart health risks to people living in Australia: smoking makes people four times more likely to die of a heart attack or stroke, and three times more likely to die from sudden cardiac death.

Recent research also shows that e-cigarette use can lead to the uptake of tobacco smoking, further demonstrating how much of a game-changer these laws are for the fight against smoking and nicotine.

We commend Health Minister Mark Butler and the Australian Government for their commitment to the health and wellbeing of all people living in Australia.

Comments attributable to Heart Foundation CEO, David Lloyd:

“The Heart Foundation congratulates the Australian Government for this new legislation and the commitment it shows to the health and wellbeing of all people in Australia.

“Importantly, these new laws will play a key role in helping to protect a new generation of young Australians from a life sentence of poor heart health.

“We’ve come so far in this decades-long battle against smoking and now vaping. These new laws are just the support we need to continue to reduce the burden of disease and death caused by tobacco and nicotine products.”