Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health Administration) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That—

(1)

The provisions of the Excise Tariff Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009 and the Customs Tariff Amendment (2009 Measures No. 1) Bill 2009 be referred to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 13 March 2009, together with the following matter:

The impact of the tax on ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, the so-called ‘alcopops’ tax, since its introduction on 27 April 2008, with particular reference to:

(a)

the revenues raised under the alcopops tax measure;

(b)

substitution effects flowing from the alcopops tax measure;

(c)

changes in consumption patterns of ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages by sex and age group following the introduction of the alcopops tax;

(d)

changes in consumption patterns of all alcoholic beverages by sex and age group following the introduction of the alcopops tax;

(e)

any unintended consequences flowing from the introduction of the alcopops tax, such as the development of so-called ‘malternatives’ (beer-based ready-to-drink beverages);

(f)

evidence of the effectiveness of the Government’s changes to the alcohol excise regime in reducing the claims of excessive consumption of ready-to-drink alcohol beverages;

(g)

any evidence of changes to at risk behaviour or health impacts (either positive or negative) as a result of the introduction of the alcopops tax;

(h)

comparison of the predicted effects of the introduction of the alcopops tax, with the data of actual effects, with a particular focus on evidence (or lack thereof) collected by the relevant department; and

(i)

the value of evidence-based decision-making in the taxation of alcoholic products.

(a)

Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia

(b)

National Drug Research Institute;

(c)

Winemakers’ Federation of Australia;

(d)

Independent Distillers Australia;

(e)

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare;

(f)

Public Health Association of Australia;

(g)

Australian Hotels Association;

(h)

Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia;

(i)

Australian Drug Foundation;

(j)

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre;

(k)

Australian Medical Association;

(l)

Australasian Associated Brewers;

(m)

Department of Health and Ageing;

(n)

Preventative Health Taskforce; and

(o)

Department of the Treasury.

Question put.