Stirling Griff (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) encompasses a range of conditions that can occur in an individual with prenatal exposure to alcohol and is the largest cause of non-genetic, at birth brain damage in Australia,

  (ii) FASD can result in learning difficulties, anger management and behavioural issues, impaired speech and muscle coordination and physical abnormalities in the heart, lungs and other organs—the effects can range from mild impairment to serious disability,

  (iii) in 2012, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs considered the issue in depth in its report FASD: The Hidden Harm ("the report"), which made 19 recommendations, many of which have not been implemented—including recommendations on alcohol health warning labels.

  (iv) the report stated, at paragraph 2.56, that "[w]hile frequency and quantity of consumption clearly increase the risks to the fetus, research suggests that alcohol at any time can endanger the development of the fetus",

  (v) according to the 2016 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 44 per cent of women consumed alcohol while pregnant,

  (vi) alcohol health warning labels are an important public health measure because they promote health messages at point of sale and at point of consumption,

  (vii) in 2010, the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council undertook a comprehensive review of food labelling—the 2011 review, titled 'Labelling Logic', recommended Australia adopt mandatory alcohol pregnancy warning labels,

  (viii) on 9 December 2011, the Forum on Food Regulation agreed to allow the alcohol industry two years to introduce voluntary pregnancy labels before 'regulating for this change'—in July 2014 this was extended for an additional two years,

  (ix) there has been no action taken to establish a labelling standard that details the size, location and wording of the warning label creating an inconsistency in labels being applied to alcohol products, and

  (x) on 19 April 2018, the Brewers Association of Australia called for "pregnancy warning labels to be adopted across all alcohol products as a matter of urgency" and stated that, after six years of voluntary pregnancy labelling, too many producers "have been too slow to do the right thing";

(b) recognises that industry, government, the medical profession and the community must commit to tackling FASD collaboratively; and

(c) calls on the government to:

  (i) implement all of the recommendations made in the report, and

  (ii) support prominent mandatory alcohol pregnancy warning labels and task Food Standards Australia New Zealand to undertake the necessary regulatory process.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. The Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum is currently developing a national foetal alcohol spectrum disorder strategic action plan through the guidance of the national drug strategy committee. The plan is intended to provide a cohesive evidence based approach to strengthen Australia's efforts in preventing and diagnosing the disorder and better supporting those living with and affected by the disorder. It is expected that the plan will be finalised by the end of the year. The Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation is currently considering implementing mandatory pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverages. Targeted consultation concluded on 14 June, and analysis of submissions is currently underway. A final decision on mandating pregnancy warning labels is likely to occur during an out-of-session meeting of the forum later in the year.

Question agreed to.