Sugary Drinks

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (15:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question about sugary drinks.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: Today's Advertiser reports on the latest results from the Cancer Council Australia's National Secondary Students' Diet and Activity Survey. The survey looked at the habits of more than 9,000 students across the country and found that boys were the biggest consumers of sugary drinks, with 22 per cent having a litre or more per week, compared to 11 per cent of girls.

The survey also showed that teens living in low socio-economic areas were more likely to consume high amounts of sugary drinks each week compared to those living in more affluent areas. According to the Cancer Council Australia nutrition expert, Clare Hughes:

Sugary drinks contribute the most added sugar to Australians' diet and the news that one in six teens consumes more than 5 kg of sugar each year, through sugar-sweetened beverages alone, is alarming.

On the back of this survey, and other research over many years, the Cancer Council is calling for a 20 per cent health levy on sugary drinks. They are backed by the Australian Medical Association, which also supports a sugar tax. Around the world, 28 jurisdictions have introduced or are planning to introduce sugar taxes, including many European countries, Pacific Island nations and a number of US cities and counties.

However, The Advertiser also reports that the Australian federal government has ruled out a sugar tax, claiming that it is a simplistic solution to a complex health problem. My question to the minister is: given the federal government's lack of leadership and refusal to heed expert advice, will the state government step up to the challenge by introducing a state health levy on sugary drinks, as called for by health experts?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:06): The Marshall Liberal government was elected with a firm commitment for no new taxes, and that includes sugar.