18/03/09

PRE-MIXED drinks will be cheaper within weeks after the Rudd Government's alcopops tax was defeated today.
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The legislation was defeated 32 votes to 31 votes with Senator Steve Fielding voting with the Opposition.

The Family First leader held the balance of power after the Greens and independent Nick Xenophon sided with the Government.

Senator Fielding refused to back the 70 per cent tax hike on ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages because the Government wouldn't ban liquor advertising on television during daytime sporting broadcasts.

The Commonwealth has collected about $290 million from the tax since it was introduced by regulation in April last year.

The Government expected the anti-binge drinking measure to raise $1.6 billion over four years.

The health minister's parliamentary secretary, Jan McLucas, said the defeat of the Bill was a very sad day for the health outcomes of all Australians, but particularly teenagers.

Key health bodies had backed the tax hike as an effective way of curbing binge drinking, Senator McLucas said.

Earlier today, Senator Xenophon pleaded with Senator Fielding not to vote against Labor's laws.

If the legislation was rejected the alcohol industry would be cracking open the Passion Pop, he said.

Greens leader Bob Brown called Senator Fielding’s stance irresponsible.

"Senator Fielding is the boy on the burning deck saying I'm going to throw you a lifeline having set flame to the ship," he told the Senate.

"Senator Fielding is scuttling legislation which has huge advantages for the Australian people and he'll be judged for it.

"But does he have the shoulders to bear the responsibility?"

Senator Brown said Senator Fielding was immature for saying he'd vote against the Bill because he hadn't got everything he wanted.

The Government had agreed to two of his demands: Warning labels on alcohol containers and an end to self-regulation of alcohol advertising.

"With Senator Fielding it's 'Give me what I want or no deal ... I'll dump all the gains made but the other senators''," the Greens leader said.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon had agreed to invest an extra $50 million in initiatives, including a sports sponsorship fund and alcohol helpline if the alcopops tax was passed unamended.

With the Herald Sun