Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Bob Brown, I move:

That the Senate declares its opposition to the rates of excise contained in the Excise Tariff Proposal No. 1 (2008) and the Customs Tariff Proposals No. 1 (2008) tabled in the House of Representatives on 13 May 2008 unless and until the Government tables in the Senate a comprehensive and costed plan of new action to address the $10 billion per annum problem of alcohol abuse in Australia.

Question agreed to.

Stephen Parry (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—I have a very brief statement. The coalition did support the motion but we want to place on record that we are also opposed to the changes to the rates of excise contained in the excise and customs tariff proposals mentioned by Senator Brown in his motion. Secondly, we would also like to see the government’s comprehensive and costed plan on alcohol abuse in Australia; however, our support for this motion does not imply that our position on this excise measure has changed or will change.