Pro-tobacco lobbyists circle Australian government’s proposed vaping reforms

Responsible Vaping Australia has run ads linking to a petition calling on the government to allow retailers to sell nicotine vaping products. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

An international pro-vaping group, supported by British American Tobacco, has hired an Australian lobbyist amid proposed government reforms that could see tightened access to nicotine vaping products.

In February, Michael Kauter – a former deputy director of the Nationals and a key lobbyist for the tobacco industry – added Swiss-based Health Diplomats to the federal lobbyist register.