When are we going to get serious about this issue? We cannot, on the one hand, talk about the health service, how much it is costing us and cost overruns, and, on the other, ignore the fact that the abuse of alcohol is a significant cause of the problem now and will be into the future. It is not just the harm to family, friendship and career that is involved but it is its impact on criminality, teenage pregnancy and family breakdown. We have to ask whether it is appropriate for Ministers to endorse an event like Arthur's Day.

The Senator is way over time.

We should keep these events at arm's length, otherwise we are sending mixed signals about the consumption of alcohol in our society. I would be grateful for an early debate on this issue and for some feedback on what the Government's intentions actually are.