Liquor Licensing (Prohibition of Certain Liquor) Amendment Bill
02/11/2015
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: As always, my pleasure, Sir. It was back to the future day the other day, so it is probably culturally relevant at the moment anyway. I will begin from the beginning, for the sake of Hansard. I will speak briefly in support of the second reading of the Liquor Licensing (Prohibition of Certain Liquor) Amendment Bill. Members may recall that back on 24 March this year I raised the issue of powdered alcohol sales in this place during Question Time, and I think I am correct in saying that I was the first member, and Dignity for Disability was the first party, to raise this very issue in this place.
I never received a formal answer, to the best of my knowledge, to those questions without notice, but I guess the appearance of this bill in this place some seven months later does suggest that Dignity for Disability was on the money in raising this issue, and that our concerns were valid. Therefore, we are very pleased to see them being heeded now. Back on 24 March I said, during Question Time:
Recently the Victorian government has announced that it will move to ban powdered alcohol, known as Palcohol, as there is an expectation that an overseas manufacturer plans to sell this product in Australia.
To make an instant standard drink, one pouch of powdered alcohol is added to water. Media reports suggest that the product is likely to cause security problems for venues and events, as well as schools, because it can be carried in powdered form and then mixed up on site. My questions to the minister are:
- Is the minister concerned about a potential increased risk of drink spiking with such a substance available?
- Will the South Australian government follow the Victorian government’s move to ban the sale of Palcohol?
The minister then replied:
I thank the honourable member for her most important question. I have read similar articles to those, no doubt, the Hon. Kelly Vincent has considered in relation to the proposed introduction of powdered alcohol here in Australia, and it does sort of beggar belief. Given the access ability of alcohol already, it does amaze me that there is a potential market for selling powdered alcohol, but there you go.
The minister went on to say:
I will watch with great interest—
She never got to finish that sentence due to a great deal of interjecting. She later continued:
Thank you, Mr President, for your protection. It does beggar belief, I have to say, in terms of where the market appeal for this is. I have also understood some of the concerns, particularly around young people being able to more readily hide the sachets. I do not have a view at this point in time. I need to consider this carefully before, if necessary, taking a position to cabinet.
I have to say in my initial thinking it is hard for me to see a great deal of difference between carrying a sachet into a venue versus a hip flask, for instance. I do not see a great deal of difference in that and, as I said, given the accessibility of alcohol already. It is the same with drink spiking as well. We understand that it is already fairly easy to spike a drink. Perhaps powdered alcohol might make it even easier, I am not sure, but I am certainly prepared to consider the concerns and fears around the introduction of powdered alcohol and, as I said, if necessary, take a position to cabinet.
I am very pleased the minister has heeded those concerns and now obviously has taken a position to cabinet, which has seen the introduction of this bill. I would like to thank the minister and the government for heeding Dignity for Disability’s concerns about this, as raised back in March. With those words, as we did have those concerns back then when we first raised the issue in the parliament back in March—and still have them now—we are pleased to support the bill.
