According to recent reports from Australian media outlet Miragenews, the Heart Foundation has expressed its satisfaction with the passing of the 2023 Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Bill by the Australian Parliament today.
This is a critical initiative aimed at preventing and further reducing the harm of tobacco and nicotine addiction on people’s heart health. Both smoking and vaping pose significant risks to the cardiovascular health of Australian residents: smoking increases the risk of heart attack or stroke by four times, and the risk of sudden cardiac death by three times.
The latest research also reveals that the use of e-cigarettes can lead to an increase in tobacco smoking and elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This further demonstrates the significance of these laws in combating smoking and nicotine addiction.
The Heart Research Foundation has praised the positive actions taken by the Australian Parliament today and congratulated Health Minister Mark Butler and his Australian government for their commitment to the health and well-being of all Australian residents.
This legislation has made significant improvements to tobacco control measures in Australia, including updating and enhancing graphic health warnings on packaging, incorporating health messaging into tobacco product packaging, ensuring e-cigarettes are also subject to advertising restrictions, limiting the use of attractive brand and variant names that imply reduced harm, aligning with many other countries worldwide by prohibiting the use of menthol in tobacco products, and introducing new reporting requirements for the tobacco industry, including reporting on ingredients used in tobacco products.
David Lloyd, CEO of the Heart Research Foundation, has praised the collaborative efforts of the Parliament and congratulated the Australian government on passing new tobacco control legislation. According to him, these new laws will play a crucial role in protecting a new generation of young Australians from lifelong heart health issues. He highlighted the progress made in the fight against smoking over the past few decades and emphasized the need for these regulations to continue mitigating the burden of disease and death caused by tobacco and nicotine products.
