Western Australia’s anti-nangs laws were meant to be the toughest in the country.
But six months since the state government promised no mercy for suppliers who illegally sell the potentially deadly party gas, not a single fine has been issued.
They’re supposed to be banned to keep children safe but nitrous oxide gas canisters, or nangs, are being delivered door-to-door in Perth in less than 30 minutes.
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Orders for the popular and potentially deadly party gas can be made over the phone or online as easily as buying a takeaway dinner.
After checkout, four emails are sent updating the order’s status, then a phone call and a handover in the CBD.
When 9News made an order to verify how easy the process was, the driver said they did 12 to 15 deliveries on a busy night.
“You can have a Friday night that’s completely dead and then a Tuesday that’s pumping,” they said.
The delivery arrived complete with a 50-pack of cream chargers, which are supposed to only be available for bakers and other people in the hospital industry, along with a free 10-pack.
There was even an extra-large canister that’s supposed to be banned entirely.
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Nangs should only be used for baking but when consumed give users a cheap thrill, which can lead to serious health issues, even death.
Growing concerns triggered the state’s move to ban them last October.
“There will be no period of grace. We will be enforcing compliance from today,” Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said at the time.
Almost seven months on, 9News can reveal not a single fine has been issued, just warnings.
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“We need to see better enforcement on nangs just as we do on a whole other drugs, vapes and the like in our community,” Australian Medical Association WA president Dr Michael Page said.
The Department of Health, which is in charge of policing sales of nangs, declined an interview on the grounds it had not been long enough since regulations came into effect.
The department said it was actively monitoring known suppliers and called for anyone with information to pass it on.
9News handed the purchased canisters in to the department.
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