A ban on the import of nicotine, which was due to take effect on 1 July, was abruptly withdrawn by the Australian Department of Health in Greg Hunt and postponed until 1 January 2021.

The ban, announced on June 20, will extend the ban on importing e-cigarettes containing nicotine for another year, effective July 1.

Imports of nicotine-containing e-cigarette liquids will be banned from July 1 and anyone violating the ban will be fined $220,000, according to the ban.

But e-cigarette users can still get nicotine e-liquids with a doctor's prescription.

The sad reality, however, is that very few Australian doctors are willing to write nicotine prescriptions under current law, and given the complex and time-consuming requirements of the new plan, even fewer are now willing, according to local media reports.

After the ban was announced, Australia's health minister felt angry protests and opposition from local e-cigarette users.

Angry protesters have taken to social media, calling and writing to local officials to complain.

Meanwhile, a petition against the ban, created by two MPS, received more than 52,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

Although there has never been such a mass revolt against a health minister, these MPS are not alone. All OECD countries except Turkey have legalised e-cigarettes. Britain has even started setting up e-cigarette shops in hospitals to help smokers try to quit.