16 News

A new report from Cancer Council’s Generation Vape research project shows fewer teenagers are taking up vaping since the NSW Government introduced tough vaping goods laws.

New findings show the number of NSW teens surveyed in the Generation Vape project who have tried vaping has declined from 29.6 per cent in April 2024 to 20.1 per cent in October 2025.

The report presented findings from NSW teens (14-17 years) on changes in vape use, access and perceptions between April 2024 and October 2025.

The encouraging decline follows the commencement of new laws introduced by the Minns Labor Government in December 2024, which banned vapes from being sold in retail settings across NSW. The laws also mean vaping products can only be dispensed from a pharmacy for smoking cessation and management of nicotine dependence.

NSW has some of the toughest penalties in the country for the sale and commercial possession of illicit tobacco with further reforms introduced in July 2025, targeting the sale of illicit tobacco and illicit vaping goods. Under these laws, the maximum penalty for supplying illicit vaping goods is now $1.54 million, and/or seven years imprisonment.

Other key findings NSW finding from the latest Generation Vape report include:

• 88.2 per cent of respondents reported little (only had a few puffs) or no experience with vapes
• The number of respondents who vaped 100+ times dropped from 6.4 per cent to 2.6 per cent
• Teens are less likely to think vaping is common among their peers
• Most teens agree vaping is unsafe and addictive.

NSW Health is taking action to protect the community, particularly young people, from the harms of vaping. Preventing uptake of vaping and supporting teenagers and young people to quit vaping remain key priorities for NSW Health.

More than 10, 000 young people have sought support to quit vaping through Cancer Institute NSW’s Pave app, since its launch in February 2025.

The Australian-first evidence-based vaping cessation app provides users with helpful tips, motivation, tracking tools, distractions for when cravings hit, as well as activities and information to navigate common barriers to quitting vaping.

NSW Health also developed the award-winning ‘Every vape is a hit to your health’ campaign, which uses powerful advertisements to encourage young people to consider the proven health harms of vaping, such as nicotine addiction, lung damage, breathlessness, nicotine poisoning and burns from exploding vapes.

The NSW Health Vaping Toolkit ensures there is evidence-based vaping resources to support parents and carers, teachers and health professionals to start conversations with young people about vaping, recognise nicotine dependence, understand signs of withdrawal, and support young people with practical tips to quit vaping.

The reforms, the Generation Vape survey results and the PAVE app success follow the NSW Government’s Vaping Roundtable held in November 2023. The Roundtable heard first-hand accounts from students, teachers, principals and evidence from health experts and researchers, about vaping behaviour and how it is affecting young people.

For support and advice about quitting vaping, young people are encouraged to contact their GP download Pave or call Quitline on 13 78 48.  

More information on vapes and their health harms is available on the NSW Health website here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/e-cigarettes.aspx and in the Vaping Toolkit here: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/vaping

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“Our Government has introduced vaping reforms designed to protect young people and these encouraging findings show this legislation is working.

“Before our changes, getting access to vapes was legally confusing. They were clearly marketed to children and young people with brightly coloured packaging and cartoon images and available from retailers on what seemed like every corner – but that’s no longer the case.

“While we have made it harder for young people to get their hands on vapes, NSW Health’s comprehensive support to help quit vaping as well as its award-winning public health awareness and education campaigns about the dangers  of vaping, have pleasingly led to more teens trying to quit, and less trying it in the first place.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and CEO Cancer Institute NSW, Professor Tracey O’Brien AM:

“The Pave app is providing practical support to quit vaping and it’s encouraging to see the impact it’s making, with thousands of people using the app as part of their efforts to quit.

“It’s important that people avoid taking up vaping or seek help to quit. Quitting can be hard but with the right support, it is possible and can be life changing.”

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant AO PSM:

“Vaping remains a significant public health issue. Vapes are highly addictive and can cause serious health harms.

“Whilst we have a strong legislative framework in place, continuing efforts to address youth vaping is critical.

“The Generation Vape results show us that NSW’s comprehensive approach based on strong partnerships and co-design with young people is working, with more young people understanding the harms of vaping and making healthy choices.”

Public high schools across NSW have been recognised for driving academic improvement, delivering outstanding results in the 2025 Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Letters jointly written by Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car and NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar went out to 45 schools congratulating them on their achievement.

This year’s results almost doubles the number of schools honoured for their 2024 HSC results, including Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design, South Sydney High School and Hunter Sports High School being recognised for the second year in a row.

The schools were identified from across 452 public high schools that each year guide the estimated 40,000 Year 12 students through to the HSC.  

Schools were identified for demonstrating consistent growth over seven years, for showing an increase in the number of students who achieved higher bands of the HSC, and for demonstrating strong progress for students across other bands.

Each school developed targeted improvement strategies to lift performance based on what works best, supported by system-wide evidence-based teaching practices with the explicit teaching of content and skills through the new NSW syllabuses, high expectations for every student, and a sustained focus on student wellbeing.

The identification of the 45 schools that have shown the greatest improvement in results in the top bands comes a year after the Minns Government set system-wide academic, HSC attainment and school attendance targets for all NSW public schools.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“These results show what can be achieved when teachers can focus their time and expertise in the classroom, providing high-impact teaching for their students.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to academic excellence, and we will continue to challenge our students to reach their full potential.

“This commitment is backed by the largest school building program in our state’s history, more teachers in the classrooms and more opportunities for high potential and gifted students.”

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said:

“These HSC results show exactly what our Plan for NSW Public Education is all about – excellent teaching and high expectations for every student. These schools demonstrate that with the right support and quality teaching, our students achieve strong outcomes.  

“This is public education at its best: lifting outcomes and delivering on the promise of opportunity for every child in every community.

“These schools are proof that great teaching changes lives. They are quietly and consistently turning potential into achievement – and that’s a story that deserves to be shared.”

Construction is now complete on the expansion of inpatient palliative care spaces at Orange Health Service, which will improve end-of-life care for the Orange community and surrounding areas.

Delivered as part of the Minns Labor Government’s $93 million World Class End of Life Care program, the project includes three new dedicated palliative care bedrooms with support spaces enhancing comfort and privacy for patients and families.

The new palliative care rooms are located on Level 1 of Orange Hospital, above the oncology ward and existing palliative care facilities. Designed to create a peaceful, home‑like environment to support patients and families, the spaces feature access to natural light, fresh air, and communal indoor and outdoor areas.

As part of the design, each bedroom will feature an original painting by a local artist. Additional artworks and photography by local photographer, Alf Manciagli will be displayed throughout the expanded space to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Following an Expression of Interest process, the courtyard area will also feature original work by local Aboriginal artist Sandon Gibbs‑Oneil, created in consultation with the Orange Health Service Aboriginal Reference Group to reflect culture, connection and Country.

The expansion was informed by extensive consultation with health professionals specialising in palliative and end‑of‑life care, Aboriginal representatives, carers and members of the local community to ensure the facilities meet the needs of patients and families across the region.

The project will now progress to final commissioning and operational readiness ahead of opening to patients in the coming weeks.

For more information about the World Class End of Life Care Program, visit: World Class End of Life Care Program

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“This is a significant investment in compassionate care for patients, families, carers and the clinical staff who support them.

“The Minns Government is committed to ensuring people with life‑limiting illnesses receive high‑quality end‑of‑life care at the right time, and in the right place.

“These modern, purpose‑built spaces will help provide comfort, dignity and support during what can be an extremely difficult time.”

Member for Orange Phil Donato

“I congratulate Health Minister Park for responding to the needs of our community and delivering improved inpatient palliative care services here at the Orange Health Service.”

“I have passionately advocated and lobbied for the return of inpatient palliative care services to Orange Health Service, which we have witnessed delivered in recent years – and I now welcome this further expansion of the unit to provide greater capability in meeting the increasing needs of our community.”

“I wish to acknowledge the dedication of Orange Push for Palliative, who are to be credited with not only making this revived ward a reality, but for making it such a supportive and peaceful space for families and their loved ones who require specialised end-of-life care.”

Labor Spokesperson for Orange Stephen Lawrence MLC:

“With construction complete, the new palliative care spaces are one step closer to welcoming patients and families.

“Community feedback played a crucial role in shaping the design, which has helped create a warm, home‑like environment that prioritises privacy, connection and comfort, as well as access to natural light and outdoor areas.

“This expansion strengthens palliative care for the region and reflects what our community told us matters most.”

The Minns Labor Government is protecting workers from dust diseases with its $2.5 million state-of-the -art Lung Health Mobile Clinic which is providing lung health checks to thousands of people across New South Wales.

The lung bus has arrived in Wollongong to provide free lung screening checks. These lung health checks can be lifesaving by making sure early detection and treatment of dust diseases like asbestosis, silicosis and mesothelioma.

The lung bus program provides free lung screening checks to more than 5,000 workers annually in NSW.

Lung health checks are painless and only take around 30 minutes. The process includes chest X-rays to detect abnormalities or damage, lung function testing to assess respiratory performance, consultation with a specialist doctor, who interprets results and provides tailored advice and referral for a CT scan, if required, to get a better image of the chest and lungs.

Workers can also arrange a free lung screening at icare’s Sydney CBD clinic, or with local providers regionally when the lung bus is not in that part of the state. To book a free lung health check, contact icare on 1800 550 027.

The Lung Health Mobile Clinic will be located at North Dalton Car Park on Monday 16 March 2026. 

The Lung Bus will next travel to the following destinations:

Parramatta: 31 March, Gosford: 13 April, Singleton: 20 April, Tuncurry: 27 April, Coffs Harbour: 11 May, Byron Bay: 18 May, Tweed Heads: 25 May, Inverell: 9 June, Tamworth: 15 June, Newcastle: 29 June, Dubbo: 6 July, Orange: 13 July, Wagga Wagga: 27 July, Lithgow: 10 August, Blue Mountains: 24 August, Sydney: 3 September, Tomago: 6 October, Newcastle: 26 October, Central Coast: 9 November.

Eliminating the risks associated with silica is a high priority for the Minns Government and the Lung Bus is one of several measures which have been introduced to reduce the risks of working with CSS in NSW.

These include:

• Strengthening workplace safety through a Silica Worker Register (SWR) which monitors and tracks the health of at-risk workers undertaking high-risk processing of crystalline silica substances (CSS).
• Leading the ban on engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs containing one per cent or greater crystalline silica. This included a national ban on its importation from January 1, 2025.
• Establishing the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce to help address silica related health risks for workers in tunnelling projects. The Taskforce is made up of Government, medical, industry and union representatives and provides expert guidance to prevent and manage silica and other dust related disease associated with tunnelling projects in NSW.
• Establishing a dedicated silica unit within SafeWork NSW which includes a Silica Compliance Team to enforce strengthened regulations, including proactive visits to sites conducting high-risk CSS processing.
• Allocating $5 million in critical funding for silicosis research and a patient support program for individuals and their families navigating the health risks associated with exposure to silica dust. The grant funding, administered collaboratively by icare and the Dust Diseases Board, will be provided over three years to the Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute (ADDRI).

Whilst lung bus bookings are at capacity, for more information on lung health checks or to arrange a screening, contact icare directly by visiting the Lung Screening Service website or calling 1800 550 027.

The Dust Diseases Care team can help facilitate lung health checks at icare’s Sydney CBD Kent Street clinic or their mobile clinic or through local services.

Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“The icare Mobile Clinic underscores the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to removing barriers like cost and location, ensuring workers across NSW have access to the critical support and care they need to safeguard their health.

“The Lung Bus is another important step towards protecting workers from dust diseases and builds on the Government’s recent actions including the Silica Worker Register, the ban on engineered stone, the establishment of the Tunnelling Dust Safety Taskforce and a dedicated Silica unit within SafeWork NSW.

“Every worker has the right to go to work and return home safely.”

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:

“We want to make sure that people in the Illawarra have access to the healthcare they need, when and where they need it.

“For too many, life gets in the way of regular check-ups so by bringing this service directly to the community, we’re removing one more barrier to staying healthy.

“Whether you’re working in construction, mining, manufacturing or just living in the area – we’re urging everyone to take a few minutes to get checked.”

Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“This is another example of the Minns Labor Government making sure Wollongong residents have access to the healthcare they need, when and where they need it.

“For too many, life gets in the way of regular check-ups so by bringing this service directly to the community, we’re removing one more barrier to staying healthy and helping to protect the health and futures of our workers.”

Icare Group Executive of General Insurance and Care Sarah Johnson said:

“A lung health check could save your life.

“Early detection is critical to effective treatment, and we’re here to make sure every worker, no matter where they live, has access to world-class care.”

Today’s determination by the Federal Government’s Commonwealth Grants Commission that NSW will receive just 82 cents for every dollar it contributes to the GST pool is a bitter blow to the state’s future prosperity, and further proof that NSW is worse off under State and Federal Labor. 
 
The NSW Liberals and Nationals call on Chris Minns and Daniel Mookhey to stand up for NSW and demand that Anthony Albanese fix the GST distribution formula so that the people of NSW receive their fair share. 
 
NSW taxpayers pay more than any other State by any other measure, yet continue to be short changed. 
 
Under the current, lopsided arrangement, this inequity is only set to worsen for NSW, while Victoria remains a net winner for the second year in a row. 
 
Shadow Treasurer, Scott Farlow, said today’s determination highlights how NSW is being left behind under Labor governments in Macquarie Street and Canberra. 
 
“Under Chris Minns and Anthony Albanese, NSW has gotten the worst GST deal since the introduction of the GST,” Mr Farlow said. 
 
“NSW taxpayers are already paying 30% more tax under the Minns Labor Government, and the NSW Liberals and Nationals are concerned that today’s news will be another excuse for Labor to raise taxes.” 
 
“After three years in office today, Chris Minns and Daniel Mookhey have sat on their hands when it comes to GST Distribution Reform. 
 
“They have failed to even make a submission to the Productivity Commission’s GST Distribution Reform inquiry to date, and today’s determination demonstrates the devastating consequences of this inaction to the future prosperity of NSW.” 
 
“While the Government has called for reform today, a move welcomed by the Opposition, it’s clear that Chris Minns has failed to stand up to Anthony Albanese for NSW to date.” 
 
“Under Chris Minns and Anthomy Albanese NSW taxpayers will keep paying more while getting less in return.”