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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 9 Hansard (2 September) . . Page.. 2855 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

If we are going to regard cigarettes as some kind of restricted product, which they are by their nature because we are saying young people should not use them, then there is of course an argument. Mr Kaine was concerned that we were turning people into criminals because of the way they sell this restricted and noxious product. Obviously, he does not apply that to alcohol. In this house this week we passed stronger provisions for penalising people who serve alcohol to minors. We are making people who sell these restricted products criminals. We did it this week in this house. We passed strong penalties for people who sell the restricted product of alcohol in the incorrect way. I believe this legislation is totally consistent with that principle.

I congratulate the Government and the Minister for Health and Community Care on this Bill. As I have said, it is about reducing the visibility of tobacco products in retail outlets. The tougher proof of age requirements, which is what we did with alcohol this week, and associated penalties for breaching those requirements send a clear message to the community, to retailers and hopefully to children that the purchase of tobacco products by children is unacceptable.

Mr Rugendyke: What about cannabis?

MS TUCKER: I am happy to have a debate on cannabis, and I am sure we will, but it is probably not helpful at the moment for Mr Rugendyke to keep interjecting.

Mr Rugendyke: It is double standards.

MS TUCKER: I would not like Mr Rugendyke to think I am not prepared to discuss marijuana and his legislation. I am looking forward to that opportunity, but I will not do it at the moment.

Mr Kaine: I told Mr Rugendyke that I would stop you being nasty to him.

MS TUCKER: I know. I am very careful not to be nasty to Mr Rugendyke now. I believe these are very good initiatives and I commend the Government. Having said that, I feel that the Government could have gone further in a few areas and was downright timid on one particular issue. I am interested to hear Mr Kaine's concerns about vending machines and Mr Rugendyke's affirming sounds when Mr Kaine was putting those concerns. He could not understand why anyone would address the issue of vending machines.

Mr Kaine: I did not say that.

MS TUCKER: I thought you were concerned, Mr Kaine, that vending machines were being moved into licensed premises.

Mr Kaine: You were not listening. That was not my point.

Mr Rugendyke: It was the absurdity and the silliness of it all.

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