Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I will try to address all of those points in the minute that I have available. The Rudd government does have a national binge drinking strategy. The $53.5 million national binge drinking strategy comprises three measures to address the problems of alcohol misuse amongst young Australians: community-level initiatives, an early intervention program and an advertising campaign targeted at young people. Under the community-level initiatives, $14.4 million has been allocated. In addition, looking at the ability to reach out into the community through early intervention programs, $19.1 million has been allocated to intervene earlier to assist young people. The research tells us that the earlier you can intervene and the earlier you can educate about the problems associated with binge drinking, the better for the community and the better for the people involved. Of course there is an advertising campaign as well— (Time expired)