Katene Rahui: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Katene Rahui: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:666;Page:13488] 
12. 
RAHUI KATENE (Maori Party—Te Tai Tonga) 
 to the  
Minister of Justice 
: What role did the alcohol industry play in ruling out an increase in excise duty bearing in mind the Ministry of Justice analysis notes “a rule of thumb is that a 10 percent price rise results in an approximately 5 percent decrease in consumption”? 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Minister of Revenue) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of Justice 
: None. 
Rahui Katene 
: Does the Minister agree with this morning’s  
Dominion Post  
that “The Government as it did when deciding not to reduce the drink-drive level has opted for the immediately popular course rather than what is best for a country with too many binge-drinkers.”; if not how will the serious harm caused by binge drinking be addressed? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: No I do not agree with the  
Dominion Post 
. I note that the Government has adopted 126 of 153 recommendations from the Law Commission. It is making changes to the laws regarding bar hours off-licence trading liquor advertising and the minimum purchase age. I think those changes would constitute a pretty comprehensive response to the situation. 
Rahui Katene 
: Does the Minister stand by his comment that “the pendulum has swung too far towards relaxation of alcohol laws.”; if so how can the Government justify the continued liquor exemptions for canteens run by the police the Fire Service and the Defence Force permanent charter clubs and Cosmopolitan and Working Men’s Clubs? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: I cannot comment on the Minister’s reported comment although I personally would agree with it. With regard to the second part of the member’s question the focus of the Government’s response to the Law Commission’s report has been to deal with those areas that are deemed to be of prime concern in terms of the binge drinking habits of young New Zealanders. The circumstances that she mentioned simply do not relate to those situations. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Does he agree that a minimum price regime would directly target cheap alcohol which is preferred by heavy and young drinkers without having a big effect on moderate drinkers; if so why did he not include that in the package yesterday; if not why did he say so in the Cabinet paper? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: The Government has responded to what is seen as one of the prime areas of alcohol use by young binge-drinkers the ready-to-drink or RTD mixtures with changes to the maximum alcohol content and to the number of standard drinks in a container. We see that as being an appropriate response to the circumstances that the member has outlined. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question specifically referred to targeting cheap alcohol which is preferred by heavy and young drinkers. The Minister turned to a completely different subject. My question was on price which was related to the primary question; his answer had nothing to do with price at all. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will hear the Hon Peter Dunne. 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: The point I was alluding to in the answer was that ready-to-drinks are a common drink used by young people. By changing the alcohol content and restricting the size one will have an impact on price which was the point the member was raising in her question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I confess that I did not pick up the exact intent of the member’s question. Because the member was serious about her question I will invite her to repeat it so that we can all hear it very carefully. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: Does he agree that a minimum price regime would directly target cheap alcohol which is preferred by heavy and young drinkers without having a big effect on moderate drinkers; if so why did he not include that in the package he announced; if not why does he say so in the Cabinet paper? 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: No. With regard to the second part of the question a number of international studies are around at the moment—and I refer the member to what is going on in Scotland at this stage—where the jury is still out on the impact of those measures.