Mr CREAN (2:34 PM) —My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, do you stand by your claim that you never promised the price of ordinary beer—draught beer—would increase by only 1.9 per cent as a result of the GST? Are you aware that 850,000 Australians have signed a petition circulating in Australia's hotels and clubs saying that you did make that promise and that you broke it? Are you aware that this is the biggest petition ever presented to parliament and, Prime Minister, why won't you keep your promise on ordinary beer?

Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) —This matter has been the subject of numerous questions in the past and I have no reason to resile from anything I have said in answer to questions in the past. Of course people who are offered the opportunity to sign a petition for cheaper beer would do so. That is a thoroughly and characteristically Australian thing to do. I would be perfectly astonished if they had not signed the petition.