TOBACCO PRODUCTS REGULATION (MISCELLANEOUS) AMENDMENT BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 25 September 2007. Page 718.)

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (11:37): The Democrats welcome the government's move, which is seeking to remove tobacco from customer loyalty and incentive schemes. With the large supermarket chains now owning alcohol retail stores and fuel outlets, customers (I do not think necessarily knowingly) are seeking the reward of discount fuel through their grocery and alcohol purchases. Smoking product purchases are already exempt from such discounts in Queensland.

With peak oil price increases and shortages that are to come soon, the reality is that consumers will seek to reduce the cost of fuel. It is an easy market for the large retail giants to target, and they are doing that. Certainly, they are able to mould consumer behaviour with the inducements. I, for one, shop at Foodland and then, in turn, take my docket to the Liberty service stations, which are independent, rather than supporting the multinationals. However, I do not think that most consumers are as discerning as that.

Given that, for many people (about 20 per cent of consumers), tobacco forms a part of their grocery bills, it leads to the purchase of tobacco giving them a discount on their fuel price. I do not see any justification for giving people a reward for consuming this drug. The other aspect of this legislation is vending machines. They have been a bone of contention, as far as the Democrats are concerned, within the tobacco products regulation laws for some time, and I look forward to a time when they will be a relic of a bygone era. So, from that perspective, this bill is a step in the right direction.

While I have the opportunity, I once again remind members of previous and current bills that I have introduced in regard to tobacco products, which were not supported by this government. There was the Tobacco Products (Clean Air Zones) Amendment Bill—and, in relation to that, I should mention that I have been writing to local government, because the state government says that it is not its responsibility, and getting its feedback. Many of the local government entities in this state are saying that they do not believe it should be their responsibility; that it should be state government responsibility.

I have a private member's bill at the moment, the Tobacco Products Regulation (Indirect Orders) Amendment Bill, which seeks to remove internet ordering and other forms of tobacco sales in South Australia, and I indicate that this bill, delightfully named as it is—the Tobacco Products Regulation (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill—is so perfectly entitled that it will allow me to take what is in that private member's bill and move it as an amendment to this bill. So, I indicate that, when we reach the committee stage, that is what I will be doing and, therefore, I will be seeking the support of members to strengthen this government bill. Until that time, I indicate Democrat support for the second reading.

Debate adjourned on motion of the Hon. I.K. Hunter.