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

I move:

That the Senate—

  (a)   notes with concern decisions by major retailers to heavily discount alcohol as a 'loss leader' to increase market share, with beer and wine being sold below the wholesale price so that it is now often cheaper than bottled water;

  (b)   draws attention to research that demonstrates that young people, disadvantaged groups and risky drinkers are highly sensitive to the price of alcohol;

  (c)   raises concern at the number of serious incidents of alcohol-related violence leading to death, permanent disability or disfigurement in recent weeks;

  (d)   notes:

     (i)   that alcohol impacts not only on individuals but on the wider community, and

     (ii)   the high cost of alcohol-related harm to the community, conservatively estimated for the 2004-05 financial year at more than $15 billion per year; and

  (e)   calls on:

     (i)   these retailers to end their cheap alcohol promotions in the interest of public health and safety, and      (ii)   the Government to consider introducing a floor price for alcohol.

Question negatived.