Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

All these elements form part of an integrated strategy for dealing with this. This is not an easy measure. We are dealing with a very complex social problem, and we must therefore act at every level. We will have more to say about binge drinking in the months ahead, because we are in close consultation with our colleagues in the police service and in the states and territories who are responsible for this.

I find it interesting, again, that here we are today being attacked not just from the left on economic policy by the Liberal Party but also from the libertarian left on social policy. Let us look at these institutions which have come out in support of the government’s measures. The Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia CEO, David Templeman, said:

… this initiative clearly recognised the problems created by the excessive consumption of RTDs which were attractive to the youth market.

Furthermore, the Australian Drug Foundation CEO, John Rogerson, said:

This tax fixes a problem started with the introduction of the GST and shows that the Government is serious about tackling alcohol problems in our community.

I pause at this moment to ask: what did happen back there in the year 2000 to cause this particular tax loophole to be created? This would be a very productive area for inquiry as to why that happened, because the public health consequences which have flowed from that decision have been acute.

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