Australia’s new vaping laws explained: where will vapes be sold and when do the changes come into force?

Under Labor’s changes, vapes will only be legally available from pharmacists for adults but no prescriptions will be required. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

The Albanese government has been pushing for world-first reforms that would have meant vapes would only be available at pharmacies with a prescription from a GP or nurse practitioner, a move backed by more than 50 public health organisations, peak doctor groups, and groups across social work and education.

But on Monday the health minister, Mark Butler, announced a deal with the Greens that represented a significant watering down of the proposed new rules, throwing away the prescription model.