[Greens-Media] Regulator pressured into allowing shopper dockets alcohol promotions

[John Kaye]

Regulator pressured into allowing shopper dockets alcohol promotions

Media release: 4 May 2014

Freedom of information documents obtained by the Foundation for Alcohol
Research and Education show that the head of the NSW Department of Trade
and Investment overruled compliance experts in the Office of Liquor Gaming
and Racing who advised that Coles' shopper docket 'buy one get one free'
deals are dangerous and should be banned.

('Woolworths 'intimidated' regulator', Sun Herald,  4 May, page 3,
http://j.mp/sh140504)

The FOI documents are available on FARE's Drink Tank website at
http://j.mp/ShopDoc1405

Dr Kaye said: "Woolworths successfully mounted a ruthless lobbying assault
on the regulator.

"Trashing the evidence and threatening legal action effectively pushed the
Director-General to reject his department's advice and continue to permit
dangerous shopper docket promotions of alcohol.

"It is a testament to the political power of the supermarket duopoly that
the Director-General would go against the strong advice of his senior
bureaucrats and allow Coles and Woolworths to continue their dangerous
marketing tactics.

"The documents help explain why alcohol policy in NSW has been so troubled.

"The political power of the liquor store chains and their willingness to
throw their weight around has seen expert advice and evidence completely
ignored.

"Despite having the power to protect young people and the victims of
domestic violence from the consequences of aggressive marketing of alcohol,
the Director-General hid behind a legal technicality that his own
department had dismissed.

"The aggressive behaviour of Woolworths and the failure of the NSW
government to stand up to the political power of the liquor industry have
contributed to unacceptable rates of alcohol-related domestic violence and
under-age drinking in NSW.

"The attack on Professor Jones' evidence and the absurd assertion that
alcohol is comparable to any other household commodity were quite rightly
rejected by the Compliance Division of the regulator.

"In the face of such compelling arguments, it is almost impossible to
explain why Director-General Mark Paterson relied on a technicality to
deliver for the duopoly.

"We will be asking the Baird government to provide the full story when
parliament sits this week.

"The Baird government's compliance experts have provided a very persuasive
argument for re-opening the case against shopper dockets. Now that their
advice has been exposed to public scrutiny, there is a strong case for the
new Minister, Troy Grant, to ask for an independent review of Mr Paterson's
decisions.

"Minister Grant's response will be a test of his independence from the
industry he is supposed to regulate," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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