FED: Beazley says tobacco sponsorship of Liberal lunch weird

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2000
FED: Beazley says tobacco sponsorship of Liberal lunch weird

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - The Liberal Party's use of a tobacco giant to sponsor a lunch
was "weird", Opposition leader Kim Beazley said today.

The party has accepted Philip Morris's offer to sponsor a lunch related to the Liberals'
national convention in Melbourne at the weekend.

Mr Beazley said although the Labor Party had received contributions from Philip Morris,
sponsorship was another matter.

"I'm not claiming that the Labor Party has not received funds and we declare our funds
and from time to time we've received contributions (from Philip Morris)," Mr Beazley told
reporters in Sydney.

"But it's got to be said it's a pretty weird thing to have them actually as a sponsor
of an event."

Mr Beazley said Philip Morris had in the past bought business observer tickets to Labor
Party conferences but they did not have sponsors as such.

Asked whether Philip Morris was giving the ALP $200,000 for its July conference, Mr
Beazley said "if we got $200,000 from anyone I'd be surprised".

The Liberal Party's acceptance over the sponsorship has split the party ranks.

Government backbencher Mal Washer said today the moral issue became lost in the sponsorship deal.

But Prime Minister John Howard said he had no problem with the Philip Morris sponsorship.

He said the company sponsored events on both sides of politics.

"If a company is entitled to operate legally, and it pays its taxes, and it is otherwise
a good corporate citizen, you should be able to allow it to sponsor," Mr Howard told ABC
radio.

"These things are never black and white."

Mr Howard said he gave up smoking 20 years ago.

AAP sal/sb/jtb/br

KEYWORD: LIBERAL PHILIP BEAZLEY

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