‘No sympathy’: why are vape stores still opening across Australia six months before ban comes into force?

Over the past four years, David has made complaints to his local council, police, the Australian Taxation Office and federal and state politicians about the illicit tobacco and vape store that opened across the road from his home. With a “cash only” sign, vapes visible on the shelves through the windows, and people frequently leaving the store carrying illicit tobacco packets in plain sight, David says even the local police have acknowledged that illegal trade is occurring. He says it is one of the busiest stores in his small town in the Gippsland region of Victoria, east of Melbourne. And that angers him, he says, “because I pay my taxes every year”.