Health minister Mark Butler defends anti-vape influencer caught with a vape
As the number of young vape users continues to grow, it would be more surprising if the influencers hired for the government’s anti-vape campaign had never used one before, the health minister said.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Mark Butler revealed the government would spend $250,000 working with Spotify, social media influencers and sports stars as part of its anti-vaping programme.
But shortly after the announcement, old photos surfaced showing one of the partnership’s ambassadors holding a vape.
Jaxon Fairbairn, member of Australian comedy duo Fairbairn Films, posted the photo to his Instagram in June, according to The Australian, although it appears to have been deleted.
Asked whether these images diluted his administration’s messages, Butler said it fits the campaign’s mission.
“We’ve engaged 10 to 12 social media influencers and just based on the percentages, I’d be surprised if some of them haven’t vaped in the past,” he told ABC Radio.
Jaxon Fairbairn, an influencer brought in by the government to tackle vaping, has previously posted photos of himself with a vape
‘I’m not at all disturbed by the fact that one of the young people we work with… has vaped in the past and learned from it.
‘I think this is a very solid basis for coming out and spreading the messages in a credible manner.’
The health minister also backtracked on what he considered a “pile-up.”
βHe has vaped in the past, he has been clear about that and he is not a vaper now,β Butler said.
“I find this attack by the traditional media on this young guy really strange.”
As part of Wednesday’s announcement, Fairbairn’s brother Lachlan said it was important that they “support a campaign that will educate people about the harms of vaping and help them seek support if they wish.”
Cricketer Ellyse Perry, gamer JackBuzza, diver Sam Fricker and surfers Zahlia and Shyla Short, among others, have entered into a partnership with the government.
The Health Secretary is expected to introduce a new tranche of anti-vaping legislation in the coming weeks in a bid to ban the sale and supply of vaping products by July.
The government has already banned the import of single-use vapes and further restrictions will come into effect from Friday