The WA parliamentary question concerns the implementation of alcohol health warnings, specifically regarding government support at the COAG level and the possibility of a WA-led initiative if federal agreement is lacking. The Minister avoids committing to a specific timeline for implementation, deferring to national health ministers' deliberations.

AnsweredQoN 998Legislative Council
Asked
9 November 2011
Portfolio
Mental Health

QuestionView source ↗

ALCOHOL — HEALTH WARNINGS
(1) Given that the Minister for Health said today that the Minister for Mental Health is one of two ministers responsible for implementing any warning labels on alcohol, will the government support the implementation of alcohol health warnings at the Council of Australian Governments? (2) If the federal government or COAG cannot reach speedy agreement on supporting and implementing these warning labels, will the Western Australian government push forward with a WA initiative? (3) Will the minister commit to have warning labels on alcohol across Western Australia by the end of 2012? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the question. (1)–(2) Australian health ministers are considering report recommendations into food labelling. These include two recommendations about health warnings on alcohol containers, including warning people against the consumption of alcohol while pregnant. That decision is a matter for the health ministers. Clearly, it is important that we raise awareness about the importance of not consuming alcohol while a person is pregnant or breastfeeding. That is one of the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines about low-risk alcohol consumption. This information is provided to the community in a range of places, including school drug education, doctors and other primary health settings and the internet. (3) Regarding the specific area around the commitments that the member has asked me to give, I am not able to give them at this stage. However, I look forward to hearing the outcome of the health ministers’ deliberations.
(2) If the federal government or COAG cannot reach speedy agreement on supporting and implementing these warning labels, will the Western Australian government push forward with a WA initiative? (3) Will the minister commit to have warning labels on alcohol across Western Australia by the end of 2012? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(2) Australian health ministers are considering report recommendations into food labelling. These include two recommendations about health warnings on alcohol containers, including warning people against the consumption of alcohol while pregnant. That decision is a matter for the health ministers. Clearly, it is important that we raise awareness about the importance of not consuming alcohol while a person is pregnant or breastfeeding. That is one of the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines about low-risk alcohol consumption. This information is provided to the community in a range of places, including school drug education, doctors and other primary health settings and the internet. (3) Regarding the specific area around the commitments that the member has asked me to give, I am not able to give them at this stage. However, I look forward to hearing the outcome of the health ministers’ deliberations.
(3) Will the minister commit to have warning labels on alcohol across Western Australia by the end of 2012? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(2) Australian health ministers are considering report recommendations into food labelling. These include two recommendations about health warnings on alcohol containers, including warning people against the consumption of alcohol while pregnant. That decision is a matter for the health ministers. Clearly, it is important that we raise awareness about the importance of not consuming alcohol while a person is pregnant or breastfeeding. That is one of the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines about low-risk alcohol consumption. This information is provided to the community in a range of places, including school drug education, doctors and other primary health settings and the internet. (3) Regarding the specific area around the commitments that the member has asked me to give, I am not able to give them at this stage. However, I look forward to hearing the outcome of the health ministers’ deliberations.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(2) Australian health ministers are considering report recommendations into food labelling. These include two recommendations about health warnings on alcohol containers, including warning people against the consumption of alcohol while pregnant. That decision is a matter for the health ministers. Clearly, it is important that we raise awareness about the importance of not consuming alcohol while a person is pregnant or breastfeeding. That is one of the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines about low-risk alcohol consumption. This information is provided to the community in a range of places, including school drug education, doctors and other primary health settings and the internet. (3) Regarding the specific area around the commitments that the member has asked me to give, I am not able to give them at this stage. However, I look forward to hearing the outcome of the health ministers’ deliberations.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(2) Australian health ministers are considering report recommendations into food labelling. These include two recommendations about health warnings on alcohol containers, including warning people against the consumption of alcohol while pregnant. That decision is a matter for the health ministers. Clearly, it is important that we raise awareness about the importance of not consuming alcohol while a person is pregnant or breastfeeding. That is one of the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines about low-risk alcohol consumption. This information is provided to the community in a range of places, including school drug education, doctors and other primary health settings and the internet. (3) Regarding the specific area around the commitments that the member has asked me to give, I am not able to give them at this stage. However, I look forward to hearing the outcome of the health ministers’ deliberations.
(1)–(2) Australian health ministers are considering report recommendations into food labelling. These include two recommendations about health warnings on alcohol containers, including warning people against the consumption of alcohol while pregnant. That decision is a matter for the health ministers. Clearly, it is important that we raise awareness about the importance of not consuming alcohol while a person is pregnant or breastfeeding. That is one of the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines about low-risk alcohol consumption. This information is provided to the community in a range of places, including school drug education, doctors and other primary health settings and the internet. (3) Regarding the specific area around the commitments that the member has asked me to give, I am not able to give them at this stage. However, I look forward to hearing the outcome of the health ministers’ deliberations.
(3) Regarding the specific area around the commitments that the member has asked me to give, I am not able to give them at this stage. However, I look forward to hearing the outcome of the health ministers’ deliberations.

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