Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I note the interjections from those opposite. The opposition media release released yesterday conveniently only used part of my response on the effect that the excise measure would have on the consumption of alcopops. It is typical of those opposite. They would rather take quotes out of context to get a cheap headline than deal with the facts at hand. In my response yesterday, I made the point that consumption of alcopops will decrease relative to what it would be if not for this measure. This will mean a reduction of 42 million 375-millilitre bottles in 2008-09. That is what I said yesterday. Let me repeat this important point: the price rise of RTDs is expected to reduce growth in RTD sales to around half of what they otherwise would have been. I will repeat that again, just in case you are struggling to hear: the price rise of RTDs is expected to reduce growth in RTD sales to around half of what they otherwise would have been. This is an overall figure for all RTD consumption. Given their generally lower incomes, it would be expected that young people would reduce their consumption relatively more. Treasury estimates that the excise on RTDs will reduce consumption by 42 million bottles in the coming year. Unlike those opposite, we take the problem of binge drinking among young Australians seriously. This is an epidemic and we are acting to help reduce it. (Time expired)