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

The government’s alcopops policy has been backed by 80 per cent of the community health experts but not by those on the opposite side in the Senate. The Cancer Council of Australia joined the Rudd government in welcoming the opposition’s change of heart in the House. The CEO, Ian Olver, said, ‘Sales data showed that the alcopops tax was driving down net alcohol consumption, which on a population basis equates to reduced risk of alcohol related cancers.’ They have seen the light, but those opposite in the Senate are yet to find their feet on this. Yesterday, I congratulated those in the House. They found the nerve to support the reduction in binge drinking within our community. But four coalition members voted against it. How many more of those opposite are going to join with those four on the other side— (Time expired)