Another Rudd pre-election promise to fix something has turned to dust;

HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has effectively ruled out the Government's election threat to take over the state hospital systems to rectify poor performances.

Kevin Rudd warned before the 2007 election that if the Commonwealth and states had not begun putting in place a health reform plan by mid-2009, a Labor government would propose that the Commonwealth assume full funding responsibility for public hospitals.

but at least the blame game has stopped, what a relief;

While there were some positive signs, Ms Roxon said it did not mean that all parts of the public system were fixed.

The Government would examine the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission's recommendations due at the end of June, before deciding on the plan ahead.

The Government had always made it clear its preference was to work with the states rather than have a takeover, Ms Roxon said.

Same crap State Labor Health service, only now there is no federal government to take them to task.

What should a Federal Health Minister do should the supply of her Anti-viral drugs be found wanting? Why its simple, just extend the shelf life of the drugs she should have replaced with new stocks, of course;

The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved an extension of Tamiflu's shelf-life.

Stale drugs...yum!!

But hey don't panic just yet, the dictatorship of the proletariat is covered;

The Government says its own supplies are not affected by the run on the drugs, as it has a contract with the manufacturer to regularly update its stockpile.

Alcopops was and is again nothing but a shameless tax grab. Even though roxon spat the dummy and claimed the Bill was dead, a desperate budget is emerging for Swan and Rudd so all bets are off when it comes to grubbing the cash. But hoepfully the public sees the measure for what it is;

The alcopops tax was a cynical and selective tax grab when it was introduced last year. It still is. The measure discriminates against politically powerless young people who like their alcohol diluted with lolly water and older workers fond of bourbon and cola in a can. The increased cost of alcopops led to people switching to straight spirits. While sales of bourbon-based alcopops dropped by 40 per cent in the latter part of last year, business in wholesale bourbon rose by nearly 60 per cent. And the biggest binge drinkers, teenage boys and young men, kept drinking what they always have - beer, and lots of it. In February, Ms Roxon attempted to steady the stagger in her credibility by showing that the tax was really a reduction measure by extending it to pre-mixed beer and wine drinks. And yesterday she uncorked statistics to show alcopops sales had slowed. But as the spirits industry argues, overall consumption figures are not the same as figures on binge drinking, and even if some spirit sales are lower, beer drinking has increased. Nor are there any numbers breaking out consumption by age.

I may just abandon my beers this friday night for a Rum and coke to support the industry.

With Both the Opposition and Fielding both holding their ground, at least publicly, on the blatant "Alcopops" Tax grab by Roxon and Swan, what hope do they have?

Maybe none, and maybe thats the point;

WAYNE Swan has dared Malcolm Turnbull to "load the gun" on an early election by demanding the Senate reconsider rejected legislation lifting taxes on pre-mixed alcoholic drinks.

If the Liberal leader refuses to reverse his opposition to the $1.6 billion tax increase, Senate rejection of the bill could provide a constitutional trigger for a double dissolution of the parliament and a fresh election, depending on the nature of the bill and the timing involved.

While the Treasurer stressed that the Government was not planning an early election, his deliberate move to raise the possibility, combined with a savage attack on Mr Turnbull as obstructionist, heralded a marked shift in government tactics to paint the Opposition Leader as negative and out of touch.

It still may be to early to assume that its a DD move.

When asked if the Government was trying to trigger a double dissolution election with the alcopops tax bill, Ms Gillard said, "No".

Well, that settles it... Get ready for a Double Dissolution as the Rudd government looks to cash in on its overwhelming popularity, and seeks to wrong foot Costello's leadership plans. 

Just like those wonderful Dodgy Brothers commercials from the 80's only frighteningly real;

A DISAPPOINTING thing happened last week. A couple of unlicensed share spruikers went on television imploring Australian mums and dads to invest in a company yet to be formed, with no business case, no feasibility study and whose viability is extremely doubtful.

The same guys paid no attention to the financial needs or risk profiles of their audience but simply asserted this was an investment not to be missed. They probably broke three or four critical sections of the Corporations Act, some of them carrying jail terms. Just the sort of corporate cowboys that our Prime Minister has condemned in his moral sermons about corporate excess.

The names of these chaps? Kevin Rudd, Wayne Swan and Lindsay Tanner, all talking about the company that will run their national broadband project.

The Alcopops war is over and sanity has prevailed. Rudd and Roxon are exposed as money grubbing tax mongers, and Steve Fielding has stood fast on his Principals.

Julia Gillard is showing the defeated attitude of a petulant child;

LEIGH SALES: So you will be returning the $300 million to the distillers, even though they've said they'd be happy for you to spend it on rehabilitation and education?

JULIA GILLARD: The legal position here is clear. The Liberal Party I think at some point during this debate decided it was wise to go for this distraction, but it is a distraction. Our obligation is to return the tax dollars to the distillers.

But thats NOT TRUE;

Distilled Spirits Industry Council spokesman Stephen Riden says the industry is not calling for a refund of the $300 million already collected by the Government.

But Gillard Roxon and Rudd are looking for a symbolic action to hang Fielding with. Nothing more than lip pouting childishness.

Someone pop down and stoke the boiler in hell. I'm agreeing with a Green Senator;

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert says the Government has not done enough so far.

"All along we said to the Government we want to see your comprehensive approach to dealing with this issue," she said.

"If this is not just about revenue raising we want to see where you are actually seriously tackling this problem."

"They have been unable to deliver that comprehensive approach so we can only assume that this is actually about revenue raising, not about genuinely dealing with alcohol-related harm."

Roxon and the ALP are as plain as day on this issue, its all about the revenue to try and make up for the Rudd cash splashing. Of course the ALP will be further embarrassed as the Taxes raised to date are handed to them and they are forced to spend on real binge drinking curbing initiatives, rather than funnel it all to consolidated revenue. 

Really Roxon was just interested in gaining a 70% tax grab increase on a easy target, but senator Steve Fielding is taking the government at face value and forcing Roxons hand in terms of genuineness of the taxes purpose; 

The senator (Steve Fielding) said that Health Minister Nicola Roxon was considering his proposal to put health warning labels on bottles of alcohol and closing the "crazy" loophole that allows advertisements for alcohol during sporting programs at anytime of the day.

"If the Government hasn't moved on these issues I'm reluctantly being forced into a position of not being able to support the tax beyond six months," Senator Fielding said.

"Family First will be moving ahead with its intention to move a sunset clause that gives the Government six months to attack and address this issue (binge drinking) beyond just a tax grab."

But a spokesman for the Minister said the Government was not considering any restrictions on alcohol advertising times.

I think Fielding will find the actual commitment to fighting binge drinking from the Government ends with an increased revenue stream.

The AMA want us taxpayers to pay so the sports people can play;

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says the Federal Government should consider buying up sports sponsorship as part of its war on binge drinking.

The association's president Rosanna Capolingua has told a parliamentary inquiry into the alcopops tax hike that increasing the excise is only one part of the solution.

Dr Capolingua says the Government needs to address marketing and the promotion of alcohol as well as the tax issue and should "perhaps consider buying out alcohol sponsorship of major sporting events".

"The Australian culture is very much aligned to sport," she said.

"At the moment, when we're watching the cricket or the football, alcohol seems to go hand in hand with that.

"We celebrate our sporting prowess with alcohol. There's a lot of opportunities for the Government to make some very strong stands to shift our culture of alcohol abuse in Australia."

Yet more "Nanny State" nonsense.

I hereby demand the government appoint a permanent lollipop lady to me, so i may cross the road safely. Its obvious I cant be trusted to do so on my own, its far to dangerous... look at the statistics people!!!

Its past time we all grew up and take some personal responsibility. More so, punish those who wont, so the rest of us don't have to suffer this puerile "save us government" crying.

The plea is moot anyway. The Alcopops tax will slush silently into "consolidated revenue", never to be seen again.

Roxon is getting on with the important tasks that will see real improvement to the state of physical and mental heath facilities and services in the nation;

Alcopops tax to include 'malternatives': Roxon 

"These (amendments) will ensure that malternatives, products based on beer or wine that are being used to try to get around this alcopops legislation, will also be taxed at the same rate," she said.

She can now retire having achieved in one term what others failed to do in decades. Bravo.

Maybe Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon should remember she is NOT the "Minister of Consolidated Revenue Raising". Seems some cleaver Aussies have dodged her Alcopop Tax, something about brewing a beer rather than a premix. Good for them. But Roxon in true "Distribute the wealth" style has called foul. If only this was the major concern of the health portfolio.

When will the Labor guys figure this out... You don't solve issues with Tax.  

But really, my advice Roxon, drop your taxation plans and focus on finding out why women are left to miscarriage in public hospital toilets.