Federal Health Minister Mark Butler will address the National Press Club today, and he’s packing an announcement to eliminate ‘black market’ vapes. Nicotine vapes are already illegal without a doctor’s prescription but ‘under the counter’ sales are flourishing. Vaping critics say legal loopholes and weak enforcement at the border have allowed the products into Australia in large volumes. Butler wants to stop that and reports this morning say next week’s Budget will include $234 million for a range of measures to reduce vaping, including to boost enforcement by Border Force and state/territory police. “Just like they did with smoking, Big Tobacco has taken another addictive product, wrapped it in shiny packaging and added flavours to create a new generation of nicotine addicts,” Butler will say today. The official register says 1,635 applications for nicotine vapes have been approved, but Butler has said there are more than 2 million Aussie vapers.