Health Minister Greg Hunt says he will never lift the ban on e-cigarettes despite an ongoing Senate inquiry into their use.

Minister Hunt told Hack: "It's not going to be happening on my watch as far as I'm concerned."

E-cigarettes are battery operated devices that heat a cartridge of liquid nicotine into a mist to be vaporised. It is widely agreed they are likely to be less harmful than smoking cigarettes and are often used as an aid to quit smoking.

Last year, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) received an application to re-schedule nicotine, so it could be purchased in liquid form legally.

After months of consultation, the TGA decided in March against any changes.

As a consequence, the commercial supply of nicotine for use in e-cigarettes remained prohibited in Australia under state and territory legislation.

Minister Hunt said he met with the head of the TGA today and accepted the TGA's point there's no strong evidence e-cigarettes are a pathway to quitting cigarettes.

"There is clear evidence that it's likely to lead to the uptake of cigarette smoking," he said.

Asked why he had made this decision before the Senate inquiry reported its findings, Minister Hunt said the parliamentary process was a good way of "dealing with and exposing" the health claims associated with e-cigarettes.

"It's big tobacco which is arguing the case for these e-cigarettes and they're only doing it because it's in their interests," he said.

"I have a very strong, clear, categorical view that this is not something that should occur in Australia."