Cancer-fighting organizations are still hoping that newly elected members of the Parliament would push through with their promises to strengthen campaigns against tobacco smoking. This despite results showing a stronger outing for the Coalition over the Labor party.

During the campaign period, the Labor presented promising platforms to curb tobacco smoking in the country. The party pledged a budget of $63.4 million for an anti-smoking drive in a bid to lower Australia’s smoking rate from the current 12.2 percent to below 10 percent.

The Liberals also committed to a $20 million funding but failed to present a detailed approach to this growing healthcare issue.

For the Labor party, their budget will be placed on different cancer awareness programs while also reviving the 1997 "every cigarette is doing you damage” TV campaign. The Cancer Council of Australia will lead the measures. The rest will be poured to other measures that deal with cancer stigma and prevention.

However, with the results of the recently concluded elections, anti-cancer lobbyist worry that this growing healthcare issue will be swept under the rug.

“Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia with 5179 men and 3855 women expected to die of the disease this year,” explains Professor Sanchia Aranda, Cancer Council Australiachief executive officer.

“Hard-hitting mass media campaigns, coupled with tobacco excise and smoke free environments, remain the most important things governments can do to reduce this burden.”

Vaping To Help Curb Smoking

One way to help solve the growing number of people suffering from cancer due to smoking is a transition to Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), with vape, or e-cigarettes, being a viable replacement.

While many question the efficacy and safety of e-cigarettes, several studies have already concluded it as a less-harmful substitute to smoking. NRT and e-cigarette users show reduced levels fo carcinogen and toxins in their bodies compared to combustible cigarettes.

With this, Australia can take advantage of this multibillion-dollar industry to help lower cancer risks while possibly even boosting the economy. According to research published by P&S Intelligence, the global e-cigarette market could hit $41.7 billion by 2024 behind health concerns over traditional cigarettes.

Statistics already show a significant increase in e-cigarette use in Australia, with stores selling vapes and people searching " vape shop " online. A 2016 study revealed a significant increase in the number of Australian smokers that have moved on to using vapes.

Many scientists and organizations continue to test the safety of vape to the health, but as far as recent studies go, e-cigarettes and vapes are an effective replacement for tobacco and combustible cigarettes and something the government may take advantage of to fight cancer.