FED: Brown says Fielding silly, immature over alcopops tax
PARLY 00918 Mar 2009 12:53 PM
Subject: FED: Brown says Fielding silly, immature over alcopops tax FED: Brown says Fielding silly, immature over alcopops tax
By Julian Drape
CANBERRA, March 18 AAP - The man who is threatening to scuttle the federal government's $1.6 billion alcopops tax is acting like a silly, immature child by risking unprecedented anti-binge drinking reforms, the Australian Greens say.
Family First senator Steve Fielding is refusing to support Labor's tax hike on ready-to-drink beverages unless the government promises to close a loophole that allows alcohol advertising on daytime television during sporting events.
In a statement issued late on Wednesday morning, he said he would give the government until 2012 to meet his demand.
"I'm offering the Rudd government a lifeline, a way to break this stalemate in the Senate on the alcopops tax," Senator Fielding said in a statement.
Greens leader Bob Brown says that stance is irresponsible.
"Senator Fielding is the boy on the burning deck saying I'm going to throw you a lifeline having set flame to the ship," he told the Senate.
"Senator Fielding is scuttling legislation which has huge advantages for the Australian people and he'll be judged for it.
"But does he have the shoulders to bear the responsibility?"
Senator Brown said Senator Fielding was immature for saying he'd vote against the bill because he hadn't got everything he wanted.
The government had agreed to two of his demands: warning labels on alcohol containers and an end to self-regulation of alcohol advertising.
"With Senator fielding it's 'Give me what I want or no deal ... I'll dump all the gains made but the other senators''," the Greens leader said.
Senator Fielding needed to use "wisdom and sensibility instead of silliness" when negotiating a deal.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon agreed on Tuesday to invest an extra $50 million in initiatives, including a sports sponsorship fund and alcohol help-line if the alcopops tax was passed unamended.
AAP jcd/rl =0A
FED: Brown says Fielding silly, immature over alcopops tax