Alcohol Warning Labels

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question about warning labels on alcohol beverages.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: Nationally, moves are afoot for the introduction of mandatory pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcohol. The proposal by the country's food regulator, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy and by doing so attempt to stem the number of babies born with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) each year.

Next month, the health minister and the agriculture minister, Tim Whetstone, will be asked to vote on the proposal for a second time. Disappointingly, the last time they were requested to vote on the proposal, earlier this year, both ministers voted with the industry and self-interest to shoot down the proposal.

Further, I also understand both ministers wrote to other state ministers, asking them to reject FSANZ's proposal. I am advised that after both ministers voted against the proposal, FSANZ was subsequently asked to revise the costs of such a program to industry and instead propose the use of the colour red and signal words in the warning instead. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why did you and minister Whetstone vote against the introduction of mandatory pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcohol?

2. Why did you and minister Whetstone write to other state ministers urging them to reject the proposal?

3. Are you prepared to table those letters that were sent to other ministers?

4. Do you believe it is appropriate for a health minister to put the concerns of the alcohol industry above those of the public health and the health of future unborn children?

5. Will you continue to reject any proposal the alcohol industry doesn't like?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:47): I suspect I might have trouble tabling the letter, because I don't think I wrote such a letter. The honourable member's statement is littered with assertions that I don't believe are true. For example, my recollection is that I didn't attend the last meeting of the forum. I don't recall having written a letter, but I will certainly check my records.

In terms of my understanding of the current state of that issue, ministers had a discussion about the work that had been done by FSANZ. We asked FSANZ to do more work and we are going to consider it at the next ministerial meeting. I don't apologise that South Australia wants to properly consider these issues and make a decision when all of the relevant information is available.