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Learn more about how Australia must regulate AI to ensure that it is ethical and that it protects and promotes human rights.

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Is the AI apocalypse upon us? A quick read of each day's media and social media articles on the topic shows a bewildering variety of views.

In our careers as data scientists, we have been building machine learning models (a subset of AI) for production applications for over a decade. The recent public releases of generative AI technologies (which generate text, like ChatGPT using Large Language Models (LLMs), or images, like DALL-E) have, however, brought unprecedented scale to the use of AI by the public.

The questions we want to consider are:

1. How afraid should we be of AI technology and its advancements

2. If we are quite afraid, what should we (governments, society, and individuals) do about it?

Federal industry and science minister Ed Husic made the valid comment that he prefers to "avoid either catastrophising or evangelising rapidly evolving technologies".

At its core, however, it's not really the technology itself, rather it's the mechanism by which AI provides benefits - combined with the societal structure and incentives of the individuals, corporations and governments who will wield it - which gives rise to alarm.

Vast social changes driven by technological advancements have been occurring since the start of the Industrial Revolution in 1760. Nowadays we call someone a "Luddite" if they still insist on printing documents to edit them, but the term originally referred to British textile workers objecting to the loss of their livelihoods through the introduction of mechanised looms. Historically, technological advancements have resulted in winners and losers.

The rise of social media has, in hindsight, been a giant social experiment. Initial results are now in, and it is clear that this experiment has resulted in significant harms.

Social media takes the normal but less worthy human traits, like gossiping and ostracising individuals or groups seen as 'other', and gives them scale. The result has been negative effects on mental health for users (and particularly young people), the co-creation of extremist world views and the undermining of democracies. As professor Toby Walsh points out, we saw the harms only after they had made a substantive impact on society.

One of the key attributes of AI technologies is that they take activities or processes normally done by humans, and give them scale. So the comparison with social media is a valid one. The positive impacts of scale (for example, efficiencies) are usually the basic mechanism for the positive impacts of AI technologies.

We also need to be cognisant, however, of the negative impacts of this scale. The rapid rate of technological advancement complicates the issue further, as it's difficult to predict the specific risks that may arise from these new technologies.

Generative AI requires supercomputing-like capacity, most of which is found in the US, China and Europe. In the US, the requisite capital and the intensive infrastructure, computational and human resources required for the development and ongoing research of generative AI is concentrated in a handful of the biggest tech firms.

Some of China's tech giants also likely have the scale to make advancements in generative AI - the search giant Baidu released its LLM product in March, and a number of other Chinese tech giants are planning to follow suit.

We've seen some cheery claims in the media that generative AI will democratise AI, as smaller organisations will be able to leverage it. This overlooks the important fact that the organisations that create the models will have tremendous power.

Big tech companies already have more wealth, and arguably more power, than many countries. In 2021, Apple had a market cap of more than $2.1 trillion - only seven countries had a higher GDP.

In a debate where there are lots of conflicting views, it is helpful to keep in mind the incentives of both individual commentators, and the major players in developing AI, to be aware of how these may influence (consciously or subconsciously) the views and actions of these groups. What are the incentives that drive organisations and countries to invest in AI research and innovation?

Profit is the key driver for organisations, and the examples of documented unethical behaviour of organisations due to profit motives is a long and shameful one. Examples range from the loss of life caused by the Radium Dial Company (look it up!) and Big Tobacco, to Cambridge Analytica's unethical use of personal data, and the wide-ranging issues revealed in the Uber Files.

Nation states are concerned with protecting their sovereignty and security, securing access to resources and growing their economies (well, at least at the simplistic level at which a data scientist understands political science). The technology needed to ensure security for a nation state is also generally the same technology that supports aggression.

So, yes, we think it's appropriate to be afraid - afraid enough to take action now. We believe that regulation is needed.

This massive social experiment that we're all part of, is too risky to be let loose without appropriate governance.

There is a spectrum of approaches being taken to AI regulation by different countries. Self-regulation is the path the US is currently headed down, while Canada and the EU are examples of countries taking government regulatory actions. European governments tend to proactively develop governance for technologies, adopting precautionary principles.

Australia has, to date, used a 'soft law' approach in developing specific governance frameworks for the development and use of AI systems.

The profit incentives of organisations make self-regulation look unrealistic. One needs only consider a parallel sector like finance, which is also driven by profit motives and impacts people's lives at scale, to understand the importance of regulation. Regulation also creates a level playing field so that organisations are not disadvantaged for acting ethically.

The incentives that bring many nation states together when it comes to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty may be a useful analogy. Similarly, Australia will need to harmonise its regulatory approach with its major allies, and where possible, major trading partners.

So, where to next?

The development of good regulation requires multi-stakeholder effort, with contributions from the public and private sectors as well as different domains.

One proposal, by federal MP Julian Hill, is for the establishment of an Australian AI commission. Hill believes this approach is "preferable to traditional government department processes" in helping tackle such complex and rapidly evolving challenges. The commission would consist of a cross-disciplinary team with representatives from industry, the APS, academia and civil society.

Such a commission sounds, in principle, like a good approach. Designing a sensible vehicle or structure is a simpler task than designing an appropriate mandate for what it is to achieve, however.

From the perspective of the APS, as Hill states, "public administrators need the confidence to deploy technology for everyone's benefit with appropriate safeguards." This not only depends on the right cultural environment, but also on clear and appropriate regulation.

It's time for Australia to act now. As Mark Twain once said, "progressive improvement beats delayed perfection". And it's crucial that a diverse set of views are considered by the government as policy is developed.

The government recently released a consultation paper seeking input on possible regulatory responses to curb the risks of AI.

Now's your chance to shape the conversation.

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AI regulation: It's time to act, Australia

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It's appropriate to be afraid of AI. Australia should harmonise its regulatory approach to AI with its major allies and trading partners.

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The Australian Government has taken a proactive step in addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with AI, unveiling its interim response to a public consultation aimed at garnering diverse perspectives on mitigating potential risks while promoting safe and responsible AI practices. Published on 17 January 2024, the response encapsulates insights from stakeholders and outlines the government's strategies to ensure the secure development and deployment of AI technologies.

The document begins by offering an overview of the valuable insights contributed by stakeholders in the discussion paper, underscoring the significance of public perspectives in shaping AI-related policies. A central theme of the response is the government's commitment to ensuring the safe design, development, and deployment of AI. This commitment includes addressing potential risks associated with the rapid innovation in AI and responding to concerns raised by the public.

Australia's strong foundations as a leader in responsible AI are highlighted, emphasising the country's world-leading AI research capabilities and early adoption of trusted digital technologies. Initiatives such as establishing the world's first eSafety Commissioner in 2015 and adopting national AI Ethics Principles showcase Australia's dedication to responsible AI practices.

Acknowledging that Australia is not alone in addressing emerging risks, the response notes that different jurisdictions employ various approaches, from voluntary measures to more stringent regulations. The discussion paper, built on the Rapid Research Report on Generative AI delivered by the government's National Science and Technology Council, emphasises crucial governance mechanisms for ensuring the safe and responsible development and use of AI within Australia, covering rules, standards, tools, frameworks, principles, and business practices.

The government seeks public feedback since low public trust in the safe and responsible use of AI hinders its adoption. The public feedback is, therefore, crucial to inform comprehensive considerations across government sectors regarding potential regulatory and policy responses. This feedback will play a pivotal role in shaping future actions and policies related to AI, building upon the government's multimillion-dollar investment in responsible AI as outlined in the 2023-24 budget.

Why does it matter?

The Australian Government's interim response underscores the importance of engaging with the public to shape responsible AI practices. Leveraging insights gathered during the consultation, the government aims to inform regulatory and policy decisions, fostering public trust and confidence in the benefits of AI.

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Australian government issues interim response seeking public input on responsible AI practices | Digital Watch Observatory

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The Australian Government has released its interim response to a public consultation on AI, emphasising a proactive approach to addressing challenges and opportunities associated with AI deployment.

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Government planning to cap international student numbers

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The debate on Australia's migration numbers has been reignited, with the federal government revealing it is considering laws that would set a cap on international student enrolments. Cost-of-living pressures, including housing, have put pressure on the federal government to find solutions.

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Labor's proposed cap on international students is a "recipe for chaos" and the largest government overreach in Australia's higher education system to date, leading policy experts have warned.

A bill introduced to parliament by the education minister, Jason Clare, last week would give him powers to set a maximum number of new international student enrolments for courses and providers, with universities' ability to enrol more students dependent on the establishment of new purpose-built student accommodation. A similar cap would operate for the VET sector based on advice from the skills and training minister.

The changes come after the number of international students in Australia shot up from about 580,000 pre-pandemic to 700,000 in February. Clare has argued that the changes are aimed at ensuring international education "delivers the greatest benefit to Australia, whilst maintaining its social licence".

Labor wants to reduce net annual migration to 260,000 by 2025, in large part by tackling international student numbers, but immigration and higher education experts have fiercely criticised the "unprecedented" plans for a cap set by the minister.

The former immigration department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi described it as a "recipe for chaos" that risked the closure of universities if managed poorly.

Rizvi suggested the cap was likely being introduced as a "stopgap measure" in response to historically high net migration levels and low housing supply, with Labor hoping it won't need to be used.

"It's quite extraordinary [policy] and all about getting to the 2025 election," he said. "The levels of intervention exceed anything I've ever seen in any other industry. This gives them the power to tell a business how many customers you can have, what they can buy from you and how much.

"The power and its use is unsustainable. You can't run an industry this way."

If passed, the legislation would come into effect on 1 January. Rizvi described what he claimed would be 12 months of "chaos" where institutions rushed to get applications in over the next 12 months, while providers facing lengthy visa approval wait times would be under pressure to refund the tuition fees of unprocessed students.

Andrew Norton, a professor in higher education policy at the Australian National University, said a cap was the most "radical limits on student choice and university autonomy" he had witnessed.

In a blog post this week, Norton wrote that the wide ministerial discretion of powers was entirely "new legal territory" and a "significant problem over-and-above the direct consequences of capping".

According to the bill, the minister could cancel international enrolments for providers and/or courses on the basis of "systemic quality issues", courses providing "limited value" to Australia's skills needs or because it is in the "public interest to do so", such as due to student exploitation.

Consultation with regulators, higher education providers or the Department of Education would not be needed in most cases and institutions that exceed their cap would risk a year-long suspension from enrolling new students.

"The level of ministerial discretion is unprecedented ... the powers are there [and] the mere possibility of their use changes the government-university relationship," Norton wrote.

"With the government and opposition united against international students we have to accept that provider caps will happen. But course level caps ... are in fundamental conflict with principles of student choice and university autonomy."

International students are Australia's most successful service export industry, contributing $48bn to the economy in 2023. With federal investment in research and development at 30-year-lows, universities have become increasingly reliant on the sector to remain viable.

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Group of Eight universities educate one in three international students, who account for more than 30% of entire revenue streams at the University of Sydney, Monash, UNSW and the University of Queensland.

The vice-chancellor of the University of Sydney, Mark Scott, prospective students looking Sydney or Melbourne would also be considering "other top international universities". "We need students to continue to feel welcome here," he said.

"We're competing ... with universities across the world, and want to make sure the best and brightest have Australia and Sydney at the top of their list as a study destination."

The University of Sydney was the only institution in NSW to record a surplus last year and 46% of its enrolments now come from overseas.

The Go8 chief executive, Vicki Thomson, said universities and purpose-built student accommodation providers were "already investing heavily" in affordable options.

Asked how universities will offset the sharp decline in international student numbers, Rizvi claimed "they're going to have to start cost cutting".

"They've designed the system not in terms of academic excellence, but revenue generation," he said.

"A better policy would be to place a higher cutoff score on entrance exams so universities don't put forward students with poor scores. You'd still control the numbers by letting them compete."

Clare told Guardian Australia the federal government was working closely with state and territory governments and education providers to help international students find housing, adding the reforms will help to "provide certainty for universities".

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Labor's international student cap an 'unprecedented' overreach and 'recipe for chaos', experts warn

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Immigration and higher education experts say caps risk closure of universities if managed poorly and radically limit 'student choice and university autonomy'

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International students praise Australian culture and education system

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A good work-life balance and better career prospects have convinced thousands of students from Asia to come and study in Australia.

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During heat waves, hospital admissions for mental health spike. The past 10 years were the hottest on record, and as we prepare for another scorcher of a summer, it's time to take steps to increase our preparedness for extreme heat.

The potential for heat stress, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are well known hazards of extreme heat. Yet, physical health is not the only factor to consider under extreme heat; mental health can also suffer. Many people can relate to the sleepless nights during hot summer months, as well as anecdotal experiences of irritation and aggression when thermally uncomfortable.

But for those living with mental illnesses, the hazard of extreme heat is more dire than temperamental responses to day-to-day disruptions. From my research in Phoenix, Ariz. and the work of others during the 2021 heat dome in British Columbia, we know that the heat is exacerbating existing mental illnesses, increasing likelihoods of hospitalization and even death under warmer conditions for people with schizophrenia.

The interactions between environment and health are increasingly identified by researchers as public health concerns as air and water quality issues, as well as death tolls from heat, make headlines. Research has shown that lower socioeconomic groups, racialized people and the unhoused, are at greater risk of exposure to hotter conditions, while older adults are more vulnerable to hotter conditions.

Heat and mental illness

The relationship between mental illness and temperature has only recently been quantified as medical records and understanding of mental illnesses have improved. My work as an urban climatologist focuses on the impact of urbanization and heat on human health. I explore the variety of unexpected impacts of heat on people. Specifically, I've studied the population diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that disrupts transmission of information to the brain. The part of the brain most impacted also houses our thermoregulatory functions. It's the part that tells us we're too hot and to start sweating or we're too cold and should shiver to stay warm.

So those with schizophrenia aren't able to respond to extreme heat the way the general population does; their bodies aren't telling them to take precautions. Further, the medications used to address schizophrenia also raise core body temperature. This means that when taking the medication, people with schizophrenia are closer to the thresholds for heat stress and stroke than the general population.

In studying hospitalizations for schizophrenia in Phoenix (where summertime overnight low temperatures are, on average, at 30 C) between 2006 and 2014, I found that minimum air temperature (the overnight low temperature) has a significant relationship to the number of hospitalizations for schizophrenia on that day and the following day. Around three per cent of all schizophrenia hospitalizations during that time period can be attributed to the overnight low temperature.

The risk is highest in both extremely cold (lower than 3 C) and extremely hot conditions (higher than 30 C). These hospitalizations cost the Phoenix health-care system over US$2 million (in 2024 USD). Certainly, Canadians see much colder conditions than 3 C at night but rarely experience overnight lows above 30 C; however, the 2021 heat dome resulted in over 600 deaths in B.C. and researchers found that schizophrenia was the chronic condition most associated with risk of death during the extreme heat.

Extreme heat can have devastating impacts on those living with mental illness, our health-care system and our communities.

Schizophrenia is not the most common mental illness in Canada. However, it can serve as an example of how environmental issues can affect mental illness. One in every five Canadians experiences a mental illness each year. More than 250,000 Canadian youth experience major depression and systemic inequities exacerbated by disparities in treatment and care for those experiencing mental illness.

While there are many different factors potentially contributing to mental illness, heat plays a pervasive role in a wide range of mental health issues. Taking what steps we can to reduce this burden on those living with mental illnesses may also have knock-on benefits to the rest of society, such as reduced use of hospital emergency departments during heat waves.

Coping with climate change

So if climate change is continuing to bring hotter summers, what can be done to prevent these hospitalizations and deaths? There are measures that have broader benefits in addition to improving mental illness outcomes during extreme heat.

A common first step is ensuring access for all Canadians to air conditioning. Statistics Canada highlighted the importance of air conditioning for vulnerable populations. Warming conditions mean parts of Canada that didn't need air conditioning 30 years ago can now become oppressively hot inside buildings without proper cooling.

Yet, air conditioning is dependent on the electrical grid and continues to produce waste heat and greenhouse gas emissions. There is a better way: designing our cities to be greener. There are a lot of previously known benefits to greening cities; reducing the urban heat island, improving air quality and in some cases increasing property values (both positive and negative outcomes).

Read more: Residential green spaces protect growing cities against climate change

However, there are some mental health benefits too. I contributed to a review of urban greenery mitigation science and highlighted the mental health benefits, including reduced depression, irritation and aggression.

Urban green space has been shown to improve mood, self-esteem and even speed up recovery from illness. So as the temperature spikes and you switch on the air conditioning and reach for the cold drinks, remember there are impacts to us all beyond just physical health, and pause to note how the heat is influencing your mood.

Extreme heat will continue to impact Canada (and increasingly so as the climate changes). However, the negative impacts on the most vulnerable, including those living with mental illness can, in part, be reduced by taking steps to ensure our cities are benefiting us all.

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Climate change and mental health: How extreme heat can affect mental illnesses

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Extreme heat will continue to affect Canada, but the negative impacts on the most vulnerable, including those living with mental illness, can be reduced by taking steps to ensure healthier cities.

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Black Dog Institute | Better Mental Health

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The implications of climate change on mental health - Black Dog Institute | Better Mental Health

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There is increasing concern about the indirect consequences of climate change on mental health. Notably, many young people report experiencing climate change-related anxiety due to the threat of irreversible ecological damage and a potentially uninhabitable physical environment.

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Starving polar bear video exposes climate change impact

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Climate trauma: The growing toll of climate change on the mental health of Australians

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Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care

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The Australian Government wants to protect young people from the harms of vaping and nicotine dependence.

Did you know that from 1 January 2024, the laws changed around vapes? The things that have changed affect the:

import

availability

advertising

sale of vaping products and liquids (nicotine and non-nicotine).

There will be more changes coming in 2024, including stopping the import and sale of non-prescription vapes.

For prescription vapes, the government will introduce laws that:

increase the minimum quality standards - including by restricting flavours, colours, and other ingredients

require pharmaceutical-like packaging

reduce the allowed nicotine concentrations and volumes

ban all single use, disposable vapes

limit the sale of vapes so people can only obtain them from a pharmacy and must have a prescription.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is leading the development of these reforms. Read more about the new regulations of nicotine vaping products.

New restrictions to the advertising and promotion of vapes will also apply. The new Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 starts from 1 April 2024, which means the same tobacco advertising and sponsorship bans will apply to vapes.

Find more information on the new legislation for tobacco control and on tobacco advertising bans.

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The Australian Government is changing the laws around vapes.

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About smoking and vaping

Smoking is burning something to breathe smoke into the lungs, such as a cigarette. Vaping is breathing in vapor from heated liquid.

Both smoking and vaping involve breathing in chemicals that can harm your health.

E-cigarettes or vapes heat liquid to create an aerosol that is breathed in, which is known as vaping. E-cigarettes can look like a highlighter, a pen or USB.

Contents of vaping liquid

There are no quality or safety standards for e-cigarettes, vapes or vaping liquids.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine which is harmful and addictive. Even those labelled nicotine-free can still contain nicotine.

The aerosol or vapor from e-cigarettes contains cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals.

How vaping affects your child's body

Vaping can cause significant harm to your child's body:

Short-term it can cause vomiting, nausea, coughing, shortness of breath, mouth irritation and asthma

Long-term it can cause lung damage, heart disease and cancers.

E-cigarettes are still being studied, but most experts think it is likely vaping will cause lung and mouth cancers.

Nicotine is a poison that can make people sick if swallowed and has been linked to the deaths of small children.

Exposing children and teens to nicotine can harm their brain development and lead to higher risk of dependence. Children and teens who use e-cigarettes are more than three times more likely to move onto smoking cigarettes.

E-cigarettes can also explode and catch fire.

Protecting your child

Research shows that children are less likely to smoke or vape if their primary role models (typically parents or carers) do not smoke or vape.

If you have found quitting difficult and still smoke or vape, share your experiences with your child.

Ask your children for their support during your next quit attempt. If your child can witness how tough quitting can be, they may want to steer clear of smoking or vaping completely.

The best way to protect your children is to never smoke or vape in the house or other places where there may be children nearby.

Smoking or vaping in a car when children are present is illegal. Passive exposure to e-cigarette aerosol can be damaging for children and young people.

Vaping laws

Smoking and vaping is banned in and around schools

The Tobacco Act 1987 bans smoking or vaping on school premises or within 4 metres of any pedestrian access point to school premises. The smoking and vaping ban applies to:

anyone present on school premises during and outside of school hours including students, teachers, and school visitors

all activities that take place on school premises.

Smoking and vaping are also not permitted during school events and excursions held off school premises.

Health and retail laws

It is illegal for any person:

to sell, barter or exchange any type of tobacco or e-cigarette product to a person under 18 years of age

to possess an e-cigarette containing nicotine, unless they have a doctor's prescription

to smoke or vape in a motor vehicle if a person under 18 years is also present in the motor vehicle.

You can report retailers selling e-cigarette products to children to your local council.

Talking to your child or teen about smoking and vaping

As a parent or carer, you have an important role in protecting your child from smoking and vaping. Parent views on smoking and vaping can influence their children's behaviours. The most important thing you can do is to talk to your child or teen about smoking, vaping and other drugs.

Use these strategies to talk with your child or teen.

Start with information

Get the key facts, learn the basics about smoking and vaping products, and think through what you want to say. Consider some questions you might be asked, and how you want to respond.

Approach it calmly

Start the conversation when you're doing an activity together, such as driving or preparing a meal. Keep things casual and relaxed. Use something you saw in a TV show or on the news as a chance to bring up the issue.

Don't make assumptions

If you think your child may have tried smoking or vaping, avoid making accusations. Some experts do not recommend searching your child's space for evidence of smoking or vaping, because it can undermine their trust.

Avoid judging or lecturing

Listen to their point of view and keep it a two-way conversation. Being mindful to keep your body language and tone respectful can go a long way. If your child has tried smoking or vaping, consider asking questions like: 'what made you want to try?' and 'how did it make you feel?'

Don't exaggerate

Make sure you are honest about potential harms and avoid exaggerated statements.

Focus on health and explain your concerns

Talk about how you care about your child's health. For example, if your child tells you they are smoking or vaping, you can say you are concerned about the health risks and share the evidence that this can affect adolescent brain development and risk of cancer.

Where to get help

Support and resources are available to help you talk to your child about smoking and vaping.

Quit Victoria

Offers resources, information and support for people to quit smoking and vaping as well as fact sheets for parents and children vaping.

VicHealth

The conversation guide helps parents and carers understand their teen's thoughts about vaping, and talk with them in a calm and respectful way.

The Royal Children's Hospital

The e-cigarettes and teens fact sheet has information on how to talk to teens about the health risks of using e-cigarettes, a podcast episode and video on vaping created by paediatricians.

Better Health Channel

Information on the health effects of smoking, strategies for quitting, statistics and Victoria's laws on smoking, the dangers of e-cigarettes, liquid used in e-cigarettes and the dangers of nicotine poisoning.

Your family doctor is a good place to start for further information and advice regarding smoking and vaping and your child.

Advice services

Quitline provide advice and confidential counselling, including for children from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Phone 13 78 48 or learn how to quit smoking.

DirectLine is a state-wide alcohol and other drugs advice service offering confidential counselling and referral 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Phone 1800 888 236 or go to directline website.

Youth, Drugs and Alcohol Advice provide a youth-specific advice service from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Phone 1800 458 685.

Alcohol and Drug Foundation advice line 1300 85 85 84.

Headspace offer mental health support online, by phone and in person through Headspace centres.

More information

This fact sheet has been prepared using information and research from:

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Help your child understand the facts and the health risks of smoking and vaping.

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Signs of vaping include health problems, addictive behaviour and unusual smells. Vaping harms teen health. Role-modelling and talking can help teens quit.

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As of 1 March, the Australian and South Australian governments are cracking down even harder on the availability of non-prescription e-cigarettes - plus where you can use them. So if quitting vaping isn't already on your to-do list, it's time to make it a priority. What's happening?
While it's been illegal to import or sell nicotine vapes without a prescription since mid-2021, the stats show that the number of Australians vaping recreationally is still growing at an alarming rate - particularly among young people. New federal reforms are closing the loopholes in the existing legislation that have allowed people to buy nicotine vapes without a prescription - especially the cool-looking, fun-flavoured disposable ones that appeal most to young people.
Here are the details
As of 1 January 2024, it is illegal to import single-use, disposable vapes - not just the ones containing nicotine, but all disposable vapes. From 1 March, things became even stricter - the import of all other recreational vapes is now banned, too.

Only importers with a licence and permit from the Office of Drug Control will be able to import therapeutic vapes into Australia, and these legally imported vapes will only be sold in pharmacies to users with a prescription. In other words, if you order any vapes at all from now - even if they're nicotine-free or you have a prescription - expect them to be seized by customs.
Tough new laws
The next phase of reforms, expected to come into effect in late 2024, will ban vape sales in retail shops altogether, regardless of their claimed nicotine content. In order to make this happen, the Australian Government will be changing the law to ban the manufacture, supply, advertising and commercial possession of vapes that fall outside of the prescription framework. That means only pharmacies will be able to stock vapes of any kind, and you'll need a prescription to access them.
What else?
During 2024, the government crackdown will also mean product standards for those therapeutic pharmacy vapes will be limited to mint, menthol and tobacco flavours. Permissible nicotine concentrations for e-cigarettes will also be lowered, and the only packaging allowed will be the pharmaceutical kind that won't appeal to young people.

To introduce and enforce the crackdown on importing and selling vapes, the Australian Government is providing an extra $25 million to the Australian Border Force and $56.9 million to the Therapeutic Goods Administration over two years.
The South Australian Government's role
This year's vaping reforms will be backed by a national enforcement framework to stamp out illegal vapes in the community. The South Australian Government will play a key role to enforce the crackdown in our state, working with the Federal Government as part of a multi-agency National Vaping Working Group.

In fact, our State Government has been ahead of the game, with a blitz on illegal nicotine sales last year. SA Health officials seized around 5000 vapes and fined 12 businesses for selling e-cigarettes without a licence over eight weeks of raids and testing. Shops doing the wrong thing can expect more of the same in the months to come.
Clearing the air in public spaces
As of 1 March, smoking and vaping is banned in a whole host of public spaces as part of tough new State Government laws to protect the South Australian community.

On-the-spot fines of $105 and prosecution penalties of $750 will be in place for people caught smoking or vaping in a range of new prohibited outdoor areas including:

On beaches between and within 50 metres of patrol flags and within five metres of jetties

At and within 10 metres of schools and childcare settings.

At and within 10 metres of non-residential building entrances, such as entrances to shopping centres, government and commercial buildings.

At public hospitals and health facilities, private hospitals and within 10 metres of their boundaries.

Within outdoor public swimming facilities.

At major event venues.

At and within 10 metres of playing and viewing areas during organised under-18 years sporting events.

The new zones significantly increase the number of outdoor places where smoking and vaping are banned, in addition to the current smoke-free laws which include outdoor dining areas, playgrounds and public transport shelters.
Why this is great news (really!)
Think a cheeky vape on a big night out might be harmless fun? Think again! The state and federal governments have some excellent reasons for killing your e-ciggy buzz, starting with wanting to keep you alive. There's a very good reason nicotine was a popular murder weapon in Agatha Christie's detective novels - the stuff is seriously deadly.

Beyond the bright colours and fun flavours, vaping has become a damaging epidemic - especially among young South Australians. The latest data, from the first quarter of 2023, shows that about one in seven 14- to 17-year-olds and one in five 18- to 24-year-olds are current vapers in Australia.
What vaping does to your health
There is strong and consistent evidence that young Australians who vape are around three times more likely to take up tobacco smoking compared to young Australians who have never vaped. Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death, killing around 20,000 Australians every year.

Not only that, but vapes - both those with and without nicotine - pose a whole host of potential health risks on their own, from seizures to impaired lung functioning. Like all illegal drugs, black market vapes aren't regulated, so you don't know what's in them. Just some of the chemicals found in vapes being sold in Australia include the active ingredients used to make weed killer, insecticide and nail polish remover.
What if I'm quitting smoking?
Don't panic! If you're quitting smoking and want to use vapes to help you, things have actually gotten easier. From the start of 2024, a new federal government scheme allows all doctors and nurse practitioners to prescribe e-cigarettes as part of treatment to quit. In the past, doctors needed to fill out a whole lot of paperwork to register as an authorised prescriber and there weren't very many who did.

The Government is also expanding and strengthening other support services to help Australians quit nicotine addiction with a $29.5 million funding boost. This includes money to support improved access to Quitline, the creation of an online quit hub and the redevelopment of the My Quit Buddy app.
For support to quit smoking visit The Quitline (13 7848) also provides expert advice through options such as telephone counselling, text message support and personalised quitting plans. There is also a range of services and information available for people who want to quit vaping. To find out more about the harms associated with vaping or how to quit, visit bevapefree.sa.gov.au. besmokefree.com.au.

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Vaping laws just got even stricter. Here's what you need to know - The Post

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This year the Australian and South Australian governments are cracking down on the availability of non-prescription e-cigarettes - plus where you're allowed to vape or smoke. So, if quitting vaping isn't already on your list of 2024 resolutions, it's time to make it a priority.

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After calls from health bodies and medical professionals, Australia will completely overhaul its laws and regulations surrounding vaping .

The new regulations still have a way to go before coming into effect - they will need to pass parliament before becoming law, and Butler said the federal government will require the help of its state and federal counterparts to implement the changes.

What are the changes to vaping regulations in Australia?﻿

The changes to vaping laws, which are part of a $737 million fund in the 2023-24 budget to take action against smoking and vaping, essentially comprise five main steps:

Outlawing the importation of non-prescription vapes;

Banning all single-use, disposable vapes;

Require plain, pharmaceutical-like packaging for vapes;

Restrict flavours, colours, and other ingredients to "increase the minimum quality standards" for vapes

Reduce the amount and concentration of nicotine allowed in vapes.

﻿So will I still be able to buy vapes from tobacconists, servos and other retail stores?

No. Under the regulations, it will be illegal for retail stores to sell vapes.

The only way to legally buy them will be through pharmacies with a prescription﻿, meaning it will put an end to recreational vaping.

Why is the government cracking down on vaping?

The changes come ﻿after the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) conducted a review into vaping, including consultation with communities and health groups.

In announcing the new regulations, Butler said vaping posed significant health risks that needed to be addressed, particularly among children.

﻿"Vaping was sold to governments and to communities all around the world as a therapeutic product to help long-term smokers quit," he said.

"It was not sold as a recreational product, and in particular, not one for our kids. That is what it has become: the biggest loophole, I think, in Australian healthcare history...

"Vaping has now become the number one behavioural issue in high schools and it is becoming widespread in primary schools as well.

"Over the past 12 months, Victoria's poisons hotline has taken 50 calls about children under the age of four ingesting vapes. Under the age of four.

"Vapes contain more than 200 chemicals that do not belong in the lungs. Some of the same chemicals you will find in nail polish remover and weed killer."

What impact will the new rules have on the black market?﻿

Some groups, such as the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS), argued even before the crackdown that strict regulations on vaping have helped drive users towards an online and in-person black market that's completely unregulated and impossible to control.

Instead of cracking down further, they want nicotine-based vapes to be regulated in the same way as cigarettes, meaning they'd be available legally in every convenience store and service station.

AACS CEO Theo Foukarre freely admits such a move would benefit his members, which include thousands of stores, most of the big service stations, big suppliers such as Coca-Cola, Asahi and sandwich companies, and three tobacco companies.

But he also argues it would help the government better regulate supply, improve safety and collect taxes on sales that would otherwise go underground.

He said the prescription-only model for nicotine vapes was designed to protect kids but had done "the absolute opposite", instead creating "one of the biggest black markets the country's ever seen".

"We believe there were up to 90 million nicotine vapes being imported into Australia in the calendar year 2022. And they are all unregulated," he told 9news.com.au early in 2023.

"So our position is: the only way the government can address the black market is to starve it of its demand."

However, ﻿Butler said he would not loosen regulations, saying it would "normalise a product that is deliberately designed, in my view, to create a new generation of nicotine addicts".

"We do recognise that (illegal products sold under the counter) is also a loop hole in all of the regulation we have put in place," he said.

"We are committed to working more with some of the enforcement mechanisms we have at a federal level, including the ATO, but with state and territory governments in trying to reduce that.

"I recognise that is hard and they don't come in shipping containers with a label "vapes" or "chop, chop", and this is hard work we are expecting of our authorities but we are determined, it is something we simply have to do."

Why are critics worried about vaping? Give me the numbers

Many health campaigners are worried vaping could be getting a new generation of kids who never would have taken up smoking hooked on nicotine.

"Vaping is not harmless, it is not safe, it is not part of tobacco control," AMA president Professor Stephen Robson argues.

In its submission, the peak body highlights figures showing a steady rise in Australians who had vaped, noting particular concern that more than one-in-five people aged 18-24 tried one of the devices in 2020-2021.

It argues vaping product liquids regularly contain harmful, improperly labelled ingredients - including nicotine in non-nicotine vapes - and 31 per cent of registered products have prohibited ingredients in concentrations exceeding the legal limit.

The AACS, which wants to loosen regulations, claims there are already 1.1 million vapers in the country.

The Heart Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and others have called for similar restrictions to the AMA.

"E-cigarettes are simply not safe to use and have been shown to cause non-smokers to take up tobacco smoking - a dangerous double-whammy on a person's heart health," Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd said in a statement.

"Despite being illegal unless prescribed, e-cigarettes containing nicotine have somehow increasingly found their way into the hands of Australian children, young people and reformed smokers.

"As a nation, we are now at a 'sliding doors' moment where we risk allowing the health mistakes from tobacco cigarettes more than 60 years ago to be repeated for an entirely new generation."

The short answer, experts say, is no.

Nicotine, in particular, is bad for you, and extremely addictive, and the federal health department says known cancer-causing agents formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein have been found in vapes.

Gartner tells 9news.com.au although fewer people may die from vaping than smoking over an extended period, she still expects deaths.

"It's clear from the evidence that these products do expose people to harmful constituents, but that the exposure is less than from smoking tobacco," she says.

"So you know, it's something where we have to keep in mind that we don't want people to think that smoked tobacco is the lesser of two evils.

That's not the case.

"But that doesn't mean to say that nicotine vaping products are risk-free, or that we shouldn't be also controlling access to those products."

Why are vaping laws different from tobacco in the first place?

Gartner, the director of the National Health and Medical Research Council's Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, says the reason for the vastly different laws is a carve-out in national poisons regulations that exempts nicotine in cigarettes from the normal poisons regulations.

That carve-out doesn't apply to vapes.

She wants more similar laws for the two categories but argues tobacco restrictions should be brought closer to nicotine vape regulations, rather than the other way around.

"We don't want to make the same mistakes with vaping that were made with tobacco, in terms of letting it become, you know, just this widespread consumer product that's allowed to be sold anywhere," she says.

"But we also want to make sure that we're not forgetting about tobacco products, and that we're thinking about all nicotine products, including smoked tobacco, and making sure that we're also trying to move people off tobacco products as well."

Most of the big tobacco companies now make vapes, raising concerns about a repeat of the public health disinformation campaigns they used decades ago to cover up how deadly cigarettes are.

Surprise name takes crown on Australia's 'most trusted' brands list

Does vaping help people quit?

There is some evidence to show that it does but Gartner says the safest option is to stick with better-studied, proven methods.

The TGA highlights a few studies in its consultation paper released last year.

A recent Cochrane Review into dozens of studies on the subject found higher quit rates among people using nicotine vapes compared to other methods.

In simple terms, vaping was linked to about an extra four people per 100 quitting when compared to other nicotine replacement therapy techniques such as gum or patches.

And a University of Queensland study found nicotine vapers were about 40 per cent more likely to stay off the smokes than going cold turkey.

"(For) some smokers, using nicotine e-cigarettes may assist them to quit; however, more research is needed to confirm the harms and benefits of using them for this purpose," the study found.

NHMRC CEO Anne Kelso last year said there were "other proven safe and effective options to help smokers quit".

"E-cigarettes are not proven safe and effective smoking cessation aids," she said.

"For some smokers, using nicotine e-cigarettes may assist them to quit smoking.

"However, more research is needed to confirm the harms and benefits of using them for this purpose."

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What does the new crackdown on vaping mean for Australians?

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After calls from health bodies and medical professionals, Australia will completely overhaul its laws and r...

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6 Best Persuasion Techniques That You Can Use in Your Speeches

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Should you learn verbal persuasion techniques that can make your speeches more effective?

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Oral presentations require preparation and practice to master. This week, Insight writer and English teacher Anja Drummond outlines steps you can take to succeed in your oral presentation SAC.
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Oral presentation. Two words that are capable of striking fear into the hearts of even the most confident student. But should they? Though not all of us can ever hope to reach the heady heights of oratory genius achieved by the likes of Barack Obama or Martin Luther King Jr, there are steps we can take to help us to present our point of view strongly.
Step 1: Research
Find out as much as you can about your chosen topic. The key skills for presenting argument in the VCE English Study Design clearly state that you need to 'conduct research to support the development of arguments on particular issues and acknowledge sources accurately and appropriately where relevant'. You are expected to research your chosen topic so that you have a deep and nuanced understanding of the issues and arguments. Read from multiple sources that present various points of view, and take notes on the arguments used.
Step 2: Plan your overall approach
Great speeches very rarely just happen; they are carefully crafted pieces of writing. Use your knowledge of argument and persuasive language as a basis for the development of your oral presentation. Remember that you are required to provide a written statement of intention to accompany your presentation. This statement of intention must outline the decisions you have made in the planning process, and explain how these demonstrate understanding of argument and persuasive language.

So, before you start writing, take the time to think carefully about the following aspects of your presentation.
Your contention

Where do you stand on the issue? Why? Express this in a clear and direct sentence. Avoid statements such as 'Greyhound racing is bad'. This a vague and general opinion, not a contention. A contention on this issue would be something like 'The cruel and abusive practice of greyhound racing should be banned immediately'.
Your context and audience

Who are you addressing? By that, I don't mean your teacher or your classmates. Rather, who is your imagined audience for the speech? This is important to keep in mind, as it will inform the language choices you make. Furthermore, consider in what context you would be addressing your audience. Is your speech designed to be delivered on the steps of parliament at a rally or to a group of students at a graduation dinner? Decide this before you start writing. And don't be afraid to adopt a persona - this will allow you broader scope in selecting a particular context and audience.

Once you have decided on your contention and on your context and audience, it is time to consider some of the finer details of your presentation.
Your purpose

What do you want your imagined audience to think, feel or do? Do you wish to inform or educate them? To create alarm? To effect change? Your purpose should be closely related to your contention.

What feelings are you seeking to communicate and to evoke in the audience? What mood are you trying to generate? Will you be using humour to relax your audience? Will you be hostile? Sympathetic? Will your tone change at any point and, if so, why?

All of the above are important factors to consider, as they will affect your language choices and the persuasive language techniques you employ.
Step 3: Plan your arguments
Now you need to decide on your supporting arguments. For each argument, ask yourself:

What persuasive language techniques will I use?

What evidence will I present?

Try to vary your chosen techniques, and remember Aristotle's principles of rhetoric - logos (appeal to logic and reason), ethos (character of the speaker) and pathos (emotional influence of the speaker). A strong argument will address all three elements in varying degrees.
Step 4: Write the introduction
Good speeches start strongly. You need to grab the audience's attention and make your point of view clear from the outset. The way you begin should be consistent with your audience and purpose. Strategies that you might consider are listed below.

Anecdote - this is a great way to highlight a personal connection to the issue or to strike a sympathetic tone.

Statistics - if your purpose is to shock your audience or to promote change, this is a great way to 'hit them hard' right from the outset.

Inclusive language - if you want to create a shared sense of purpose, make it clear to your audience that they are part of this issue, and that how they feel matters.

Once you have your audience's attention, introduce yourself (or your persona), clarify the issue, state your contention and signpost your main arguments.
Step 5: Write the body
This is where all your planning from step 3 pays off!

For each body paragraph, ensure that you create strong topic sentences that clearly highlight your main arguments, and then develop each argument using your carefully selected language and evidence.

There are a few things that you should keep in mind as you write:

Cohesion is king! Keep your line of argument consistent and use connectives throughout.

Analyse the evidence! Don't just present a raft of statistics or evidence and expect them to make the argument for you. Analyse their importance in relation to the debate.

Include some rebuttal! An issue has two sides - you need to rebut some or all arguments from the opposing point of view.

Step 6: Write the conclusion
Aim to finish strongly. Reiterate your contention and then tell the audience what they should think, feel or do. (This should directly relate to the purpose you decided on in the planning stage).

To ensure that you finish on a powerful note, consider using an appeal, a rhetorical question, or a call to action.
Step 7: Proofread and practise
Read your speech to friends or family and get their feedback. Did the line of argument make sense to them? Did you persuade them? Did any parts of your speech lose their attention? Take note of these responses and edit your speech as required.
And finally ...
Have fun!
Need extra help preparing for your oral presentation? Insight's English Year 12 and English Year 11 are produced by Insight Publications, an Australian educational publisher. English Year 12 and English Year 11 by Robert Beardwood include chapters on presenting a point of view that outline how to research and prepare; how to plan and write; how to present; and how to write a statement of intention. Sample SAC responses, with sample statements of intention, are also included.
Photo credit: Terd Photo/shutterstock

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How to write a good oral presentation on a point of view - Insight Publications

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Oral presentations require preparation and practice to master. This week, Insight writer and English teacher Anja Drummond outlines steps you can take to succeed in your oral presentation SAC. - Oral presentation. Two words that are capable of striking fear into the hearts of even the most confident student.

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Your point of view speech will be in Week 2 of Term 3

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There is currently no generally applicable law regulating the use of AI in Australia, although a voluntary set of AI Ethics Principles has existed since 2019.

In the last 12 months, there have been a range of consultations, reform proposals and other steps taken by various Australian government bodies that suggest the Australian government looks set to take a narrower approach to regulating the use of AI by focusing first on high-risk use cases. Nevertheless, it is possible that the more prescriptive approach taken by the European Union will influence the development of AI in Australia from a practical perspective.