Question On Notice No. 1079 asked in the Legislative Council on 26 October 2022 by Hon Dr Brian Walker
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Question
I refer the Minister to the Department of Health's website and specifically to the page headed 'electronic cigarettes in Western Australia' which until recently contained a section entitled 'E-liquid/E-vape juice/Vape juice and nicotine, and I ask:
(a) when was the information on E-liquids removed from the website;
(b) who instigated that removal, and was the Minister or anyone in that office involved in the decision;
(c) was any new legal advice received by the Department or the Minister prior to the removal which might have informed the decision; and
(d) if no to (3), are the previous statements about e-liquids which did not contain nicotine being exempt from the 2016 Supreme Court ruling still valid, and if they are, why does the Department no longer offer public advice on that aspect of vaping?
Answered on 29 November 2022
(a) September 2019.
(b) The change to the website was approved by the Department of Health. This was an operational decision within the Department of Health and did not involve the Minister or the Minister’s Office.
(c) No.
(d) The Department’s website may be updated from time to time to reflect policy positions on public health matters.