Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I thank my colleagues for inviting me to be the first to speak. With regard to Senator Fitzgerald's remarks about what happened at the weekend, we are all deeply concerned about the terrible incidents we have seen and the clear abuse of alcohol that has been going on. It requires us to question our relationship with alcohol and it also requires a good deal of political leadership. In that context I wish to raise an issue I think should be considered by the Minister for Health and Children. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister to the House for a debate if possible.

We are still seeing, in 2008, children wearing sports jerseys that show the logos of alcohol companies. I am holding up to the House a jersey of a well known English football club, Liverpool FC, which I bought this morning. It is a replica shirt for nine to ten year olds, bearing the logo of a drinks company on the front. I will not——