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

Even allowing for some substitution, the bottom line is that the Treasury’s figures still show a drop in overall consumption of excisable alcoholic beverages of 0.5 per cent—in contrast to growth in previous years. Here is what the budget papers say if you read them out wholly:

Overall excisable alcoholic beverages consumption declined by 0.5 per cent in contrast to small positive growth rates of recent years.

In addition, the same section of Budget Paper No. 1 states in relation to Customs data:

However, overall spirits consumption has fallen since the measure to increase excise on RTDs was introduced.

When all of the facts are examined, it is clear— (Time expired)