Smokers of e-cigarettes could be fined up to $550 if caught vaping in public spaces or on public transport across New South Wales.

The ban will come into effect in July after state parliament passed new laws on Wednesday night.

“Put simply, where you are not allowed to smoke cigarettes, you now cannot vape either,” the health minister, Brad Hazzard, said in a statement on Thursday.

That includes shopping centres, cinemas, libraries, trains, buses, public swimming pools, near children’s play equipment, sports grounds, public transport stops and outdoor dining areas.

NSW’s chief health officer said there is evidence of potential health risks from e-cigarette vapours – even if there’s no illegal nicotine in the e-liquid.

Vapours can contain chemicals, toxins and metals, and some of these substances, like formaldehyde, are known to cause cancer, Dr Kerry Chant said.

Cancer Council NSW welcomed the ban, which already exists in Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT.

“It is great to see NSW government bringing NSW in line with other states,” tobacco control manager Scott Walsberger said.

“There is conclusive evidence that e-cigarette vapour increases particulate matter and nicotine in the air which may be a risk to bystanders who are exposed to the vapour.”

The new laws also force retailers to notify NSW Heath they are selling e-cigarettes.

In a separate move the premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, has said the state will only raise the legal smoking age to 21 if the rest of the nation agrees to do the same.

WA put the idea on the agenda of the national meeting of health ministers on Thursday, but McGowan said he was ambivalent about the change and the state will not go it alone.



“I see the arguments both ways. If you’re 18 you can go to war, you know, why shouldn’t you be able to smoke?” he told reporters on Thursday.



“On the other hand, some of the evidence that I’ve seen says that if you lift the smoking age, we may well save lives.”