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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 6 Hansard (23 May) . . Page.. 1555 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

Having regard to our record in relation to smoking and tobacco products and our attitude to smoking and tobacco products in this territory and the fact that we continue to pursue most vigorously our anti-smoking campaigns, participating in or endorsing the removal of the price differential between low-alcohol and regular beer sends a most complex message to the community and to young people.

MR HUMPHRIES (Treasurer, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Community Safety): Mr Speaker, under standing order 47, I would like to explain something which has been misunderstood in the debate.

MR SPEAKER: Proceed.

MR HUMPHRIES: Some of the debate today has proceeded on the assumption that there will be no differential between low-alcohol and full-strength beers in the ACT as a result of the removal of the ACT subsidy. That is not the case. Members should be aware that, as I explained in the presentation of this bill, the Commonwealth is introducing a tiered arrangement for federal government taxes and excises on alcohol, and there will still be a differential between the price of low-alcohol and full-strength beers in the ACT, even with the removal of the ACT subsidy. It will be less than it is now. On a carton of beer, the differential is about $7. It will fall to about $3 or $4, with the passage of this legislation. Members should not assume that when this bill is passed there will be no differential between full-strength and low-alcohol beers. That is not the case.

Debate (on motion by Mr Berry ) adjourned.

JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY-STANDING COMMITTEE

Scrutiny Report No 7 of 2000 and Statement

MR HARGREAVES: I seek leave of the Assembly to present, on behalf of the chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety, Scrutiny Report No 7 of 2000.

Leave granted.

MR HARGREAVES: I present Scrutiny Report No 7 of 2000 of the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety performing the duties of a scrutiny of bills and subordinate legislation committee, and I ask for leave to make a brief statement on the report.

Leave granted.

MR HARGREAVES: Scrutiny Report No 7 of 2000 contains the committee's comments on 12 bills, 18 subordinate laws and 13 government responses. The report does not refer to concerns the committee has with the first home owner scheme. I would like to advise the chamber that, with a bit of luck, the committee will meet at lunchtime to consider its supplementary report and, with the indulgence of the Assembly, we hope to present that report to the Assembly as soon as possible after the luncheon break.

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