Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I am not avoiding answering the question. That is the advice I have from the officials.

Senator Xenophon has asked me—he cannot be in the chamber at the moment—to reconfirm our position on advertising and particularly on prevetting. Once again, I refer him to the communique from the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy meeting on 24 April. Ministers who sit at that ministerial council supported a series of proposals about an alcohol-advertising regulation to be presented to COAG. People will recall that COAG has actually asked the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy to undertake a very comprehensive piece of work—and we have reported back to COAG—which goes to the questions of prevetting; the ABAC management committee having a more balanced representation of industry, government and public health; expanding the adjudication panel; expanding the coverage of the scheme to include emerging media and other forms of media; including the naming and packaging of alcohol products; and, for the first time, meaningful and effective sanctions for breaches of the code. Senator Xenophon, I hope that that answers the intent of your questions. I urge the chamber to pass these bills.