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

Of course, on this side of the chamber we are committed to improving the health of all Australians no matter where they live. Those opposite in the House of Representatives, thankfully, have seen sense and support us in our pursuit of tackling binge drinking. The alcopops tax is one part of our overall plan on the national anti-binge-drinking strategy. But I encourage those opposite to rethink their current strategy in the Senate to ensure that the alcopops tax is dealt with in the Senate, because at the moment the motion that they passed today makes it plain that we cannot deal with the alcopops tax before we go home this week. If those opposite want to support the bill, give us the indication and we will bring the bill on and have it dealt with. The simple message is that those opposite should support the alcopops tax. Stand up with your shadow minister and support it or tell us that you have joined the pack of four.