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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 07 Hansard (Thursday, 1 July 2004) . . Page.. 3255 ..

Alcohol inhalers
(Question No 1532)

Mr Smyth asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 13 May 2004:

(1) Has the Government, through liquor licensing, received any requests from local hotels, clubs or pubs to install alcohol inhalers on their premises;

(2) What is the Government’s view regarding alcohol inhalers and will they be permitted in licensed establishments in Canberra.

Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) No. Permission under the Liquor Act 1975 (the Act) is not required when installing such equipment.

(2) My government would take advice on this matter from the Liquor Licensing Board. My government fully supports the board in its efforts to ensure that practices that lead to the rapid and excessive consumption of liquor are not allowed to become established in the ACT.

The Liquor Act 1975 and its associated Licensing Standards Manual (Manual) permits the banning of a practice or promotion that may encourage rapid or excessive consumption of liquor. The provisions of the Manual are a matter for the Liquor Licensing Board to determine.

The ACT industry has been accepting of, and compliant with, declarations made under the Manual that a practice is inappropriate, particularly in relation to new and novel drinking practices. While there may be an argument about whether the 'consumption' of liquor in a vaporised form is covered by the definition of 'liquor' under the Act, there have been no instances to date where declarations, even of matters that only have a loose connection with the consumption of liquor, have been challenged. If this becomes a matter of concern then the definition of liquor, or the matters that can be declared to be an 'inappropriate practice' could be expanded.

Infant forensic pathology
(Question No 1536)

Mr Smyth asked the Minister for Health, upon notice, on 13 May 2004:

(1) In relation to a National Pathology workshop held in Canberra in March to discuss infant forensic pathology in which the Federal, NSW, Victorian, Tasmanian and Northern Territory Governments contributed to the cost, as did SIDS and Kids A.C.T., why didn’t the A.C.T. make a contribution to this conference;

(2) Will the Government give consideration to compensating SIDS and Kids A.C.T. for their contributions towards the cost of the conference; if not, why not;

(3) What A.C.T. Government funding is currently given to SIDS and Kids A.C.T. on an annual basis;

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