Annastacia Palaszczuk announces investigation as reports surface of Queensland students vaping at school

Annastacia Palaszczuk has sounded the alarm that many young people are vaping because elementary school students fear they have developed a habit.

The Premier announced on Sunday that the state government would launch a parliamentary inquiry into the matter to find out how many Queenslanders are now vaping.

“I hear reports of children in elementary schools vaping during their lunch break,” she told reporters on Sunday.

“These little kids are vaping in schools and they are vaping at home, so we need to make sure everyone knows that vaping is not good health.”

Annastacia Palaszczuk raised the alarm about the number of young people who are vaping, fearing elementary school students have developed a habit

Ms Palaszczuk said the investigation would also look at what’s in the vape liquid. It’s sometimes thought to contain nicotine, artificial flavors, and even nail polish remover

Ms Palaszczuk said the investigation would also consider what’s in the vape liquid, colloquially known as “e-juice,” which can sometimes contain nicotine, artificial flavors and other potentially harmful chemicals — like nail polish remover.

The Queensland Parliamentary Health and Environment Committee will be tasked with reviewing current measures being taken in schools to discourage vaping.

Health Secretary Yvette D’Ath said she had heard concerns from school leaders that children had become “so hooked” that they couldn’t concentrate on class because they wanted to go out and vape.

“This is very, very concerning, so we need to shed some light on what’s inside these e-cigarettes,” she said.

Recent research published by Cancer Council Australia suggests that more than 80 per cent of people in Queensland want the government to take action against vaping.

The prevalence of daily smoking in Queensland continues to fall, but research from the Australian National University suggests that people who try vaping are three times more likely to start smoking.

Queensland isn’t the only state struggling with the rise of vaping.

The prime minister announced on Sunday that the state government would launch a parliamentary investigation

New South Wales has long required e-liquids containing nicotine to be prescription-only, with Premier Dominic Perrottet revealing he occasionally vapes after giving up cigarettes.

Victoria controls e-cigarettes the same way tobacco products are regulated.

Vapes and vape juice are not allowed to be sold in Western Australia, but shops have been known to offer them under the counter as is the case in other states.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration also made changes to regulations governing the importation of vape products in October 2021.