Binge drinking is a problem, also among youth. Rudd is cutting back, despite a healthy surplus, on health care and aged pensions. But Rudd has this solution to one of his problems; Rudd's image will suffer if too many young people die from drinking related tragedy.
By giving money to Rudd's mates in advertising, Rudd can be seen to have taken a stand on an issue everyone agrees is important. Sadly, to actually address the issue, Rudd might have to do something that might be cheaper and more effective, which would probably not involve him giving money to friends to take his picture.
The scenario is one sorry train wreck, like much of Rudd's time as PM.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Rudds Bizarre Cost Cutting Back Flip
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$53m war on youth drinking
from news.com.au
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has announced a $53 million program as an initial attempt to put a cap on binge drinking among young Australians.
The program will contain a range of methods to tackle the problem in partnership with community and sporting clubs in particular.
"Today the Australian government is putting up its hand to partner with them (community groups) to try to turn this problem around," Mr Rudd said.
He said a survey had shown 168,000 Australians between 12 and 17 had reported binge drinking or drinking at risky levels.
Mr Rudd said the campaign would have three parts - codes of conduct, stronger powers for authorities and a national advertising program.
"A $14.4 million investment in community initiatives (will) confront the culture of binge drinking, particularly in sporting organisations,'' he said.
"This funding in particular will be dedicated to sporting clubs to assist them in developing local codes of conduct in relation to binge drinking.
"The government will also take sporting organisations' actions on this question into account in the possible future consideration of grants to such sporting organisations.''
The second part would confront the question of personal responsibility with $19.1 million to support innovative early intervention and diversion programs for people under the age of 18.
"That is, where young people are found binge drinking, to provide funding and support to assist to turn those young people around,'' Mr Rudd said.
"The possible initiatives there range from anything from requiring young people to participate in educational and/or diversionary activities, or even to allow the authorities to confiscate alcohol and to provide formal warnings.
"Our objective under this program is to have a major pilot project up and running in each state capital of Australia during the course of 2008.''
The third part of the national binge drinking strategy is $20 million funding over two years for a hard-hitting television, radio and internet campaign that confronts young people with the costs and consequences of binge drinking.
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